An occurrence that seemed to arbitrarily and capriciously decrease my options was visited upon me recently by a form letter from Kathryn Barry, regional marketing manager-PTI. Ms. Barry informs me that because my dial-up Internet provider, IT&E, has been purchased by PTI, I have until Sept. 1, 2008 to continue paying $15 for this service. At that time, the cost will increase to $25 per month. The reason for this increase is unexplained. It is clear to me that once the administrative costs of processing one’s hook-up to the Internet are covered, the Internet provider simply sits back and collects the monthly fee. These administrative costs are paid upfront by the subscriber. It takes about 15 minutes. No other costs are involved except maintaining the telephone system. I pay for maintenance of the telephone system with my monthly telephone bill.
The letter from Ms. Barry further points out that for $39.95 per month, I can get a faster Internet connection with no annoying busy signals and I can use my phone while I’m online. WOW! To further motivate me to switch, I am told that this offer is made only to IT&E dial-up customers. DOUBLE WOW!
Nothing in the letter explains why these additional charges are necessary. The sole reason given is that PTI bought IT&E.
The fact that PTI now has a monopoly on Internet access should NOT give them the right to arbitrarily and capriciously decrease my options to choose, but in reality it does. Is there some federal communications agency that should investigate this?
What is a poor old man supposed to do as his options slowly decrease? Die I guess. Maybe so, but not yet.
ROGER N. LUDWICK
Sadog Tasi, Saipan
