IP: How creatively desperate can AT&T get ?

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Dave -
>
> It isn't April 1st., is it ? The network provider getting paid for any sale
> its network carries ?? Good grief....
> (Please remove my name if you send it to IP)
>
> http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2000/10/09/technology/att/
>
> http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20001009/bs/att_dc_1.html
>
>  NEW YORK (CNNfn) - AT&T Corp. is considering a plan to charge Internet
> retailers a commission each time a customer buys something through the
> telecom's broadband network, an industry analyst said Monday. AT&T would also
> collect a fee from retailers each time a customer accesses their site through
> its network.
>
> The change would help AT&T reduce dependence on its shrinking consumer
> long-distance telephone business and make money off traffic on the high-speed
> broadband networks it gained through its acquisitions of Tele-Communications
> Inc. and MediaOne Group Inc., analysts said
> <snipped>