>Let's remember that it takes time and money to keep a board going and >we should only be trying to stop glaring abuses of overcharging for >the free feeds provided through Bates and AVCNet. For several years, the area BBS's have known what resources are needed to maintain a board.... Several years ago, LASA attempted to answer the question of what a BBS should charge....I felt then as I do now that when you get all boards to agree what the price should be, you will be condenming the less "affluent" boards to death. Yes, you may get some income, but that income will not be spread to all boards evenly....Users will pay for what they perceive is the best board and not to the others. And as a consequence of "loyalty" some boards will get all the users and some won't get any. And quite frankly, this is still the age of boards experimenting with finding a niche in this fast moving endeavor. I feel that charging may be consistent with an agenda that still doesn't seem to be out totally "out in the open" in my mind. But, I'll place my faith in the largely inadequate by-laws, part of which says that we exists to promote computer communications among the public in the Androscoggin Valley. I don't see where squeezing the users will add to our stated mission. Recognizing that my opinions are uniquely my own and not believing in my divinity, I'll compromise to support a "free time" system although I don't understand how Bates can allow people to earn money from its "non-profit" feed. Somehow I think that the IRS would frown on that. And inasmuch as PC-Forvm has to file taxes, it worries me. ribbit
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