MMM: Very interesting... It is a very fair question for Simon to ask Rick if he is making money on the calls, yes or no.
Betsy The Bethelite to make special announcement 8PM on Seven Screens Call
by Alfred 11 Replies latest jw friends
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MeanMrMustard
All,
So, looking into Great Lakes Communication Corp ("not your typical phone company" - as their website says), I found a press release on their site from 2007, which sheds some light on what they do. A little background on the press release. GLCC was suing AT&T because AT&T decided to block their conference numbers. That is, AT&T caught on the access fee scam and stopped delivering long distance traffic to their switches.
GLCC decided to file a law suit.
Here is the article Notice the bold underlined portion:
Press Release Source: Great Lakes Communication Corp.
Iowa Telecom 'David' Battles Telecom Carrier 'Goliaths' in Unjustified Attempts to Block Numbers
Wednesday April 4, 1:52 pm ET
Great Lakes Communication Corp. Rallies Support of Legislators, Public Interest Groups, and Local Telecom Associations in Advance of Seeking Help from the FCC
SPENCER, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Great Lakes Communication Corp. (GLCC), a leading Iowa telecommunications company offering alternative conferencing solutions at affordable costs, today reaffirmed its solid market position and dedication to its partners and their end-customers amidst the attempts of some of the largest telecommunications carriers to block its conference bridges.
"We are totally comfortable in the role of 'David' in this epic struggle with the telecom carrier 'Goliaths' to pressure them to cease and desist with their unjustified blocking of our conference bridges," said Josh Nelson, president, Great Lakes Communication Corp. "As a small Iowa-based telephone company, we know how important it is to stand up for the 'little guy', or, in this case, the non-profit organizations, universities, religious groups and small businesses that lack the monetary resources and rely upon our free conferencing partners for their communications existence."
From the heartland to the nation's capital, GLCC has embarked on an all out grassroots campaign to spur its state legislators, representatives in Congress, U.S. Senators, and local/national public interest groups to write the FCC Commissioners to help them understand the severity and impact of this call blocking on their constituents.
GLCC has retained Jonathan E. Canis of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP to spearhead the cause for the blocking issue. "We have pulled together the extensive list of FCC precedent and policy statements that make it absolutely clear that big carriers cannot bully our clients by blocking their phone numbers," said Canis. "We will be asking the FCC to act quickly and decisively to put a stop to this patently unlawful behavior." Canis is also representing some of the free conferencing providers affected by the blocking.
According to Nelson, the situation began back in December 2006 when AT&TAT&Twe partner with conference calling companies that bring us the customers and we, in turn, supply the communications and pay them a marketing fee for their service," added Nelson. "Unfortunately, the AT&T
Non-profit organizations such as the California Hunger Action Coalition depend upon free conferencing services like FreeConference.com to connect its volunteers statewide with free conference calling. According to Frank Tamborello, Executive Director of Hunger Action Los Angeles and Co -Chairperson of the Coalition, the blocked calls, if they continue, will interrupt planning of the coalition's annual event, Hunger Action Day, on May 8. "Our statewide coordination and activities have come to a complete halt as a result of these anti-market activities," added Mr. Tamborello. "We were recently blocked when a group of members on the Central Coast scheduled a call but half the callers were unable to access it -- these moves by the large carriers are appalling."
About Great Lakes Communication Corp (GLCC)
Great Lakes Communication Corp (GLCC), with headquarters in Spencer, IA , is a leading Iowa telecommunications company offering alternative conferencing solutions at affordable costs. The company works in tandem with its conferencing partners to deliver free conferencing services to a diverse mix of customers including non-profit organizations, universities, religious groups and small businesses to power their operations. GLCC is a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), a telecommunications provider company that competes with other, already established carriers (generally the incumbent local exchange carrier or ILEC). GLCC focuses on markets that are underserved and creates an affordable alternative to serve them - all at significant savings to its partners and their end-customers while maintaining the highest levels of quality, service, and reliability. For more information, visit www.glccom.com or call 712.432.4700.
© 2007 Great Lakes Communication Corp. All other marks are the property of their respective ownersSo GLCC is getting the access fees, and they are paying a kick-back - a "marketing fee".
It is still unclear if Rick has come to an agreement with GLCC or a "conferencing partener" to get any portion of that marketing fee.
The press release mentions FreeConference.com. If Rick signed up here, then it looks like he could get it all free. He could come to an agreement for a marketing fee, but even if he couldn't, there is a good possibility that all this stuff is free for him - so why the donations needed on the website? He's got ads on his site as well, for more revenue. And if he is getting it all free, why the unusual push to JUST DIAL IN? If it is all free for him, and he's not getting money, what's the incentive to drive so much traffic to his call with JTB - considering JTB is full of it...
MeanMrMustard