The US Postal Service has branded as "completely false" rumours circulating by email that the US government is planning to levy a surcharge on email usage. The email claims the per-message fee would be donated to the Postal Service to cover the $230 million in revenue it has lost as people send letters electronically rather than through the mail. It says that a Republican Congressman, Tony Schnell, has suggested a "20-40 dollar per month surcharge" on ISPs, while the government is considering a five cents a message fee. However, the Postal Service said that not only did it have no right whatsoever to levy such a charge, but that there is no Congressman Schnell. "No such legislation exists," it added. ®