A coalition of over a dozen campaign groups across nine European countries has named June 6 1999 ‘Telecom Boycott Day’, in protest of the high cost of internet access. In the UK, the Campaign for Unmetered Telecommunications (CUT) is leading the strike, which aims to get all telephone users, particularly those who use dial-up internet access, to switch off for 24 hours.
The organization believes per minute charging from incumbent telcos should be replaced by flat-fee local call packages, similar to those offered by US telcos. On the continent, the campaign is more varied, with groups such as the French Association of Dissatisfied Netsurfers targeting subscription-based ISPs as well as the incumbent telco France Telecom.
A CUT spokesperson said: The boycott is not a strategy of revenue attack. We’re trying to raise awareness of our campaign. British Telecommunications Plc, the boycott’s UK target, responded with: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Unmetered local call charges are recouped with higher line rentals and other charges.
