StudioTech
S2409W plus SA4250HD
join:2001-10-10
Edison, NJ
1 edit | While we're looking at the USF....
Let's take a look at the FCC subscriber charge on regular phone bills. Can someone explain that one? |
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Mike
Premium,Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
clubs:   | The FCC can;
»www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/charges.html |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | quote:
This is not a government charge or tax, and it does not end up in the government’s treasury.
It's telco revenue with a dressed up name. Doesn't go to the FCC at all. |
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kdandaoc
join:2003-10-13
608052427 | Time for another Boston Tea Party
regardless of the outcome of any investigation or audit, the consumer will still be over taxed in one form or the other in order to pay for inefficient federal departments and bell lobbyists. |
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lesopp
join:2001-06-27
Land O Lakes, FL | So what!
Eliminate the USF and the Bells will simply increase their "regulatory cost recovery fee" to offset the income loss.
Until the legal speak and loopholes are closed no one will get a break. |
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joebear29
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL | Simple solution
If we really want to fund this crap (e-rate etc.), get rid of the regressive USF altogether and fund it through general taxatioon. |
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packetscan
Premium
join:2004-10-19
Bridgeport, CT
clubs: | And again they are wrong
Millions? billions? I'd be hard pressed to say it hasn't been TRILLIONS since the USF was stated Many many years ago.
The Fcc is going to have a bad taste in there mouth after this one. |
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Shamayim
I already have a Messiah.
Premium
join:2002-09-23 | Refunds on the way
if DSL subscribers catch a break. |
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Rock Guitar
join:2001-01-17
Columbus, OH
clubs:
| Everyone Charges Different Amounts
What surprises me is that every telco provider charges different amounts on the USF. What's that about? Why does one charge twice the amount as another? I guess they can tack on however much they want (and keep or pay out whatever they can get away with). Doesn't seem right. It's time to end the USF fee altogether. What good is it? |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
| reply to lesopp
Re: So what!
Even once the legal speak and loopholes are closed, we the consumers aren't going to see smaller bills. The regular service price will just go up.
--
"What gives them the right to come in and do this?" she said. - Lady complaining that she was getting FIOS in her backyard. |
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ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI | We need an impartial person....
someone with an insider view of the telcos...a person with integrity beyond reproach to root out telco corruption...someone like U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions.  |
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BigDaddy05
join:2004-04-02
Carrollton, TX | What happens if USF is revoked
I suspect that any real attempts to remove USF will be met by long drawn out legal battles. The end result (win or loose) will be an additional 'Cost Recovery' fee. |
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jp10558
@ny.frontier
 from:
jsimmons 
| reply to cdru
Re: So what!
But at least that's legitimate. I hate it when you call up a phone company for a quote, and it's invariably 30-50% lower than the actual bill.
Also, it would get rid of the various $40/month unlimited service plans that actually cost $75/month.
That way you could compare phone charges. I mean, I have to ask, why is there a $6 a month line fee when the company OWNS the lines? That is clearly actually part of the service charge, so instead of quoting $12/month basic local service, quote what it is $18/month...
Doesn't make the ads so good sounding though.
All around, I want a law that whatever you advertise a product for, that's the cash I *pay* when I walk out with it. Not + delevery, tax, surcharge, handling, etc... |
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tschmidt
Premium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
 ·Hollis Hosting
 ·Verizon Online DSL
·Fairpoint Communic..
| Nice gesture, bad law
The USF debacle is a typical example of what happens when you try to merge social policy and tax law. One can argue whether the idea behind USF is good or bad, but what cannot be denied is that once implemented it created yet another layer of bureaucracy and has the FCC trying to split hairs as to which service falls under and which do not.
I say eliminate it and if we decide we need to fund broadband create a one time project to wire them up, and have it self destruct when done.
/Tom |
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noone1
join:2004-06-04
Nashua, NH
| Oh Tom, you just dont understand. You see, us hampshireites are a rare lot in this political world where both sides are basically socialists. The socialist just dont understand what true freedom is and thus would never eliminate thier security blanket. Remember the socialist mantra...
The government is our friend
The government should redistribute the wealth
The government should run our lives
If it is broken, then you need to throw more money at it to fix it (department of education?) and not look for way to eliminate bureaucracy.
Oh no, the entitlement, socialist mentality is strongly rooted and outcome is sadly predictable.
You could never eliminate this tax, just only increase it |
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triton666
@optonline.net | 3 Libertarians. |
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zoom314
Superman
Premium
join:2001-04-30
Yermo, CA
| Weren't these funds supposed to be for
Weren't these funds supposed to be for establishing phone service in areas that the Bells have not wanted to serve?
I mean If the Bells charge this money and then refuse to put phone service in every little town that the Bells would otherwise skip, then Why doesn't the FCC use It's vast power and enforce Its rules?
They should be forced to serve anyone with phone service anywhere in their service area, Even If the Phone Company is kicking and screaming like 3 or 4 year olds.
--
Firefox forever!
»zoom314.blogspot.com/
»mysite.verizon.net/zoom314/ |
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javaMan
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-15
San Luis Obispo, CA
| reply to tschmidt
Re: Nice gesture, bad law
said by tschmidt :. . . I say eliminate it and if we decide we need to fund broadband create a one time project to wire them up, and have it self destruct when done. My god man, what kind of reasoning is that!? What would be done with all the bureaucrats with nothing to do or the politicians with no one to contribute to their campaigns? Think man, think!
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Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness. . . Isa. 5:20 |
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