Article: Flat Fees Squeeze Internet Access Providers.(Originated from San Jose Mercury News, Calif.)

SAN JOSE, Calif.--Oct. 9--Soon, you can stop checking your stopwatch while you're on-line.

Companies offering Internet access are switching to flat-fee pricing rather than charging consumers based on the amount of time they spend in cyberspace. For about $20 a month, you can get unlimited access to the Internet. But some observers say the price will come down even further because of ever-increasing competition, spurring a consolidation among Internet service providers.

The entrance of telecommunication giants like AT&T and Sprint into the Internet access business is pushing prices down. Seeking to get market share quickly, the companies ...

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