jalapen
@bellsouth.ne
| [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective May 1
Looks like P8 is adding a "regulatory recovery fee".
Look at the bottom of the videophone price reduction press relase
»biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050414/sfth···tml?.v=5
"..and a monthly $1.50 regulatory recovery fee, a new fee being introduced on all Packet8 phone numbers effective May 1, 2005." |
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mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA | Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective M
Is the "regulatory recovery fee" approved by FCC? |
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dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29
 ·ViaTalk
| reply to jalapen
said by jalapen:
Looks like P8 is adding a "regulatory recovery fee".
"..and a monthly $1.50 regulatory recovery fee, a new fee being introduced on all Packet8 phone numbers effective May 1, 2005."
Good thing my 1 year contract ends next month. Looks like its going to be the Sunrocket 1 year prepay plan for me |
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dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29 | Do you think P8 is going to inform us of the rate increase? |
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scooby
Premium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL | reply to jalapen
Regulatory fee is approved by the FCC. Its ghey. |
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PJIV
Premium
join:2004-07-13
Niagara Falls, NY | reply to dcurrey
You will NOT be disappointed in that decision. I switched just last month, best thing I ever did! |
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WhyADuck
Premium
join:2003-03-05
| reply to scooby
said by scooby  :Regulatory fee is approved by the FCC. Its ghey. Please cite your source for this information. My understanding is that such fees are NOT required to be collected by any government agency, instead they are just a way to collect more money without jacking up your advertised price, and as such, deceive consumers as to what the actual cost of the service will be. |
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SipSource
join:2005-02-01
| reply to jalapen
This can't be sanctioned by the FCC in much the same way VoIP providers are not 'required' to have 911 or charge FET. They can't blow off regulations about 911 and at the same time cite the FCC as the reason they're collecting an extra 7.5% "fee"!
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SipSource: VoIP Uptime Reports & User Reviews Win an SPA-2000! |
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jalapen
@bellsouth.ne | reply to WhyADuck
So far I'm happy with my P8 service, but I agree with WhyADuck...these fees are a bunch of BS. |
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schdy37
join:2004-12-07
Commack, NY | Ladies and Gentlemen pause before you leap. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Remember that saying. Leave for a better reason than $1.50 month increase. Read the complaints from other VOIP ers and make the right choice. |
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laserjobs
Premium
join:2004-05-02
Las Vegas, NV | reply to jalapen
At least with my $1.50 at Lingo they include 911 calling. |
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dcurrey
Premium
join:2004-06-29
·ViaTalk
| reply to schdy37
said by schdy37 :Ladies and Gentlemen pause before you leap. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Remember that saying. Leave for a better reason than $1.50 month increase. Read the complaints from other VOIP ers and make the right choice. If it was a 1.50 rate increase it wouldn't bother me as much. But if you start letting voip companies get away with the same bogus line item charges that POTS companies do they will not stop doing it.
And as far as reliability Sunrocket doesn't seem to have a lot of problems. Lots of additional features however.
And having my nose cut off might be an improvement to my face.:) |
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chaud
Serious Business
join:2004-07-09
Anderson, SC | reply to jalapen
Tis a trivial fee, but its rather stupid, and when there are other providers out there without it... |
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Trimline
Premium
join:2004-10-24
Orlando, FL
·Callcentric
 ·AT&T Southeast
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to jalapen
BellSouth imposes a Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee of $2.97 per month to offset its costs incurred in complying with obligations and charges imposed by state and federal regulatory bodies and state regulatory orders affecting their broadband. BellSouth’s Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee is not a tax or charge imposed by a government entity.
So, this is essentially a price hike. P8 provides an application, it does not supply you with "telephone service" as defined by the FCC, nor does it provide you with broadband service. No government agency is requiring them to collect this, nor is any government agency expecting payment.
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FWD#537129 |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse for Bus..
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VoiceStick
·Packet8
| reply to chaud
said by chaud :Tis a trivial fee, but its rather stupid, and when there are other providers out there without it... It is trivial and when I total my cell, internet, phone and VoIP, it comes to less than 1%. I've been with P8 over 18 months and basically happy with their service. I'm also comparing P8's 80ms. pings to SR's 3ms. and equal or lower prices for more features from closer providers. I just added an unneeded Verizon line for FiOS. If I'm going to switch, this would be the time.
Please Packet8, don't make my decision this easy. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
| reply to scooby
quote:
Regulatory fee is approved by the FCC. Its ghey
Regulatory recovery fees are not approved by the FCC, nor are they government mandated.
They are rate hikes designed as bogus official sounding fees so you blame Uncle Sam instead of the company in question. They also allow companies to tack on price hikes below the line, allowing them to sometimes disguise real prices in adverts.
They began when incumbent bells, who pay into the USF much more than cable providers, felt such contributions unfair and designed the idea to direct ire at the government....
Make no mistake though, it's about as much official "fee" as I am albino walrus. |
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scooby
Premium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
2 edits | reply to WhyADuck
said by WhyADuck :Please cite your source for this information. My understanding is that such fees are NOT required to be collected by any government agency, instead they are just a way to collect more money without jacking up your advertised price, and as such, deceive consumers as to what the actual cost of the service will be. »www.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.html
packet8 is betting voip will get regulated soon and/or screwing their customers. |
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cbrain
join:2000-05-21
Silver Spring, MD |  reply to jalapen
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective May 1
I called P8 to verify. After a transfer and hold, the rep confirmed that this $1.50 fee would start May 1. |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
1 edit | reply to scooby
Re: [Packet8] New $1.50 Regulatory Fee effective M
said by scooby :said by WhyADuck :Please cite your source for this information. My understanding is that such fees are NOT required to be collected by any government agency, instead they are just a way to collect more money without jacking up your advertised price, and as such, deceive consumers as to what the actual cost of the service will be. » www.fcc.gov/fees/regfees.htmlpacket8 is betting voip will get regulated soon and/or screwing their customers. Your link is for regulatory fees (like USF, etc.) The "regulatory recovery fee" is not an FCC-sanctioned fee, it is a price hike, with the justification that they may someday be regulated. Perhaps I need audio-visual aids..... |
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scooby
Premium
join:2001-05-01
Schaumburg, IL
1 edit | reply to jalapen
My bad long week. From comcast:
The Regulatory Recovery Fee recovers costs that the Comcast Digital Voice™ service incurs in order to ensure the adequate support of various public services. These costs may include charges imposed by state and local governments to help pay for emergency services such as fire and rescue, and for the relay center that transmits and translates calls for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired individuals. The Regulatory Recovery Fee also recovers costs related to federal and/or state programs that guarantee affordable voice services for all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools and libraries and rural health care providers. The Regulatory Recovery Fee is not a tax or a government-required fee. |
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