-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Please check your phone bill carefully for new Internet Charges
from TSTT
Date: Fri, 12 Aug 2005 13:01:11 -0400
From: Peter Wimbourne <sysop@...>
Organization: OPUS NETWORX

A few months ago TSTT introduced a new billing package called
SmartChoice. We wrote to you and suggested that you consider this
package carefully as it introduced a new penalty rate of 23cents/minute
to call your ISP, if you were not using TSTT NetExpress as your ISP.

Some of you may have noticed a new line item on your recent TSTT phone
bill for 'Internet/Dialup Usage'.

This has been introduced by TSTT over the last few weeks, and appears to
have been applied to all TSTT phone customers even if they are not
SmartChoice customers.

We have been unable to get an answer from TSTT as to the reason for this
item. However we can suggest two scenarios

1. This new penalty fee of 23cents per minute has been applied to all
TSTT phone users regardless of whether they are SmartChoice customers.

2. TSTT has chosen to show your calls to your ISP as a separate item
from all of your other phone calls.

In either case it is clear that TSTT's intention is to suggest that
using an ISP other than TSTT will cost you more in phone bills.

The reality is that TSTT continues to provide toll-free service at no
charge to itself in an unfair manner, and has tried to sell toll-free
service to ISPs at $17.25/hour. It does not take much math to figure out
that we could not provide toll-free service at such a rate and continue
to face the blatant anti-competitive and unfair trade practices of TSTT.

You have few options for complaint. The Telecommunications Authority of
Trinidad and Tobago has instructed TSTT to meet with ISPs and find a way
to solve the SmartChoice penalty fee issue. To date TSTT's only offer
has been to ask the ISPs to pay for your phone calls.

You can refuse the new charge and demand that TSTT explain and justify
it to you.

You can complain to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and
Tobago at http://www.tatt.org.tt

You can continue to refuse to sign up for SmartChoice until TSTT
rescinds the penalty fee.

You can forward this as widely as possible.

The ISPs as a group at http://www.aiisp.org have been unable to get the
Telecommunications Authority to force TSTT to rescind the SmartChoice
penalty fee despite a clear directive from the Telecommunications
Authority CEO John Prince that SmartChoice must not cause any increase
in phone bills.

Be very clear what SmartChoice is; it is a scheme that lets TSTT raise
local call rates without having to get approval from the Government. If
TSTT targets ISPs today, they may target your business sector tomorrow.

regards

- peter wimbourne