Galaxy Telecomm Corporation announces...... CONNECT-USA!! During the next few months, Galaxy Telecomm Corporation will be building an all new data network across the United States known as CONNECT-USA!! CONNECT-USA will consist of 9600 baud access and outdial facilities in the 60 largest cities. The first twelve cities to have full access and outdial ability are: ATLANTA, GA BOSTON, MA SAN FRANCISCO, CA DALLAS, TX HOUSTON, TX SAN JOSE, CA LOS ANGELES, CA FAIRFAX, VA PHOENIX, AZ FAIRFAX, VA CHICAGO, IL HONOLULU, HI In addition, to the above cities, the following national BBSes will be directly connected to the network: EXEC-PC CHANNEL ONE GALAXY RUSTY AND EDIE'S BBS (Milwaukee) (Boston, MA) (ABQ, NM) (Youngstown, OH) These "direct connect" systems will be accessable directly through the network without going through an outdial port. During "Phase One" of the network development, the "direct connect" systems will be the only systems reachable through the network. We expect the "Direct Connect" systems to be online and accessable by July 15th, 1990. These "Direct Connect" systems will be accessable by calling any CompuServe local access number in the United States (800 service not included) at 2400 baud. CompuServe will be adding 30 9600 baud access numbers no later than September 30, 1990 and another 30 before the end of October, 1990. At that time, all "Direct Connect" systems will be accessable at 9600 baud. During the next six months, the twelve cities mentioned above will become accessable as both access and outdial ports at both 2400 and 9600 baud. As this happens, CONNECT-USA members will stop using the CompuServe access numbers and start using the CONNECT-USA numbers. The charges for using the CONNECT-USA service is as follows: Access to CONNECT-USA from a city with NO CONNECT-USA ACCESS via CompuServe access numbers: $3.00 per hour Access to CONNECT-USA from any CONNECT-USA Access number $3.00 per hour Access to CONNECT-USA via CompuServe from a city WITH CONNECT-USA ACCESS: $6.00 per hour Basically, this translates to mean that if your city has a CONNECT-USA access number, you are expected to use it. If you do, you will pay $3.00 per hour. If it doesn't have one, you may use the CompuServe access numbers at the same price. If your city has a CONNECT-USA access number and you continue to use the CompuServe access number, you will pay $6.00 per hour. THESE RATES ARE 24 HOUR PER DAY RATES! There is no such thing as "prime time" and "leisure time" with CONNECT-USA!! There are also NO Character charges or "telco" charges associated with the use of CONNECT-USA!! All outdial ports will be located in the "central city" area of each city and any call that is a local call to that telephone number can go through. If the call has any sort of "telco" charge associated with it, the call will be rejected. We will shortly make available a list of telephone exchanges that may be reached from each outdial port. Each outdial port and access number will be connected to both 2400 and 9600 baud NMP5 modems that support V.32, V.42 and V.42bis. We cannot guarantee that the 9600 baud modems will be in operation before September 30, 1990 although they will become available after testing. During the initial "startup" period, the signup fee for CONNECT-USA will be $15.00. After the "startup" period is over, the signup fee will be $35.00. There is a monthly maintenance fee of $10.00. Monthly charges will be charged to either VISA, MasterCard or direct checking account debit. Certain corporate clients may qualify for direct billing (with substantial deposit). If you would like additional information about CONNECT-USA you may call 1-800-477-1788 (voice) between the hours of 9AM - 5PM Mountain Time. No information will be given out over the phone. It will be mailed to you. This service is operated totally seperate from Galaxy Telecomm Corporation's other network service, StarLink although StarLink members may sign up for CONNECT-USA with NO signup fee. BBS Sysops are invited to inquire about becoming "Direct Connect" CONNECT-USA systems.