TECHNOLOGY - June 12, 1996

N.Y. Agency Probes AOL Billing Practices: The New York state attorney general’s office has begun a formal investigation into the billing practices of America Online Inc., the world’s largest online service, a source has confirmed. “In essence, it revolves around how they break down the time that they charge for and whether it’s fair. It’s being investigated as a consumer issue,” said the source. Mark Carey, a spokesman for the attorney general, said the office, “as a matter of policy, would neither confirm nor deny any investigation.” Steve Case, chief executive of Vienna, Va.-based AOL, said he was unaware of any such investigation. Spokeswoman Pam McGraw said she was unaware of “specific issues as they relate to New York state, but we have been having an ongoing dialogue with a number of different states.”