You can't make a cogent argument about ISPs giving up their "common carrier" status when they are not classified as common carriers. Providers say they are _like_ common carriers when it suits them and they say they are not _like_ common carriers when it doesn't. This is not a bad thing -- it just reflects the complexity of the situation. The cable outfits want to be treated like common carriers when it comes to things like the DMCA yet they fought like hell against other ISPs on the question of open access to their infrastructure. Not exactly consistent and collective. -- Mike At 01:59 PM 8/15/01, you wrote: >Nope, I'm talking about *any* ISP blocking access to certain IP >addresses or IP blocks. They all have consistently and collectively used >the argument that they are "common carriers" not "publishers." A >position I agree with, in general. And, the argument goes, since they're >required to carry the traffic of all comers they're not responsible for >any of it. When they start limiting access to specific addresses or >blocks of addresses, a cogent argument could be made that they've given >up their "common carrier" status. > >-- >Michael Fraase >ARTS & FARCES LLC >mfraase at farces.com >www.farces.com >PGP Fingerprint: >3D85 F3F4 9E65 4949 176A 260C CB47 190D C864 9A96 > > > -----Original Message----- > > Message: 17 > > Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 13:13:15 -0500 > > To: tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > From: Mike Paulsen <mpaulsen at charter.net> > > Subject: Re: [TCLUG] AT&T filtering sites?.sdm > > Reply-To: tclug-list at mn-linux.org > > > > ATT the telco is not the same as ATT the ISP. ISPs are > > "enhanced service > > providers" and do not enjoy the benefits nor suffer the > > regulatory burdens > > which come with common carrier status.* > > > > ATT (the telco) is required to give ISPs access to the > > telephone lines. ATT > > (the ISP) is considered an end user just like any other ISP. > > > > *That's not entirely true, as they do enjoy some of the same > > benefits (and > > possibly burdens) as common carriers under things like the DMCA. > >_______________________________________________ >tclug-list mailing list >tclug-list at mn-linux.org >https://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list