This was sent to me from reliable sources but is UNAUTHENTICATED -- If you

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

>
>
>Here's the full text of the memo from TCI Cable COO Barry Marshall to the
>troops:
>
>As we move into the regulatory environment, it's important to remember
>something vital ... Under regulation, we can't simply adjust our economics
>anymore. We have to take the revenue from the sources that we can, when we
>can. To that end I want to remind each of you that the transaction charges for
>upgrades, downgrades, customer-caused service calls, VCR hookups, etc. are
>vital new revenue sources to us. We estimate that by charging for these
>functions we can recover almost half of what we're losing from rate
>adjustments.
>
>We have to have discipline. Much like the install fee problem, we cannot be
>dissuaded from the charges simply because customers object. It will take a
>while but they'll get used to it...they pay it to other service providers all
>the time..and it isn't free with the phone company!
>
>Please hang in on this and installs, and we can still have a great fourth
>quarter when we have out heaviest volume. The best news of all is, we can
>blame it on reregulation and the government now. Let's take advantage of it!
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>My comment: there's nothing really outrageous here until you hit the last
>paragraph. They're allowed to set certain charges under the Act and FCC
>rules. Do you often not take a tax deduction you're entitled to under the IRS
>rules?
>
>But the tone anchored in the last graph is outrageous. Remember that New York
>Times rule, kids. If you don't want to read about it on the front page, don't
>put it in writing.