More People Realize Our Broadband Plan Has Broadband Tax FCC Weighs Tacking $1-$5 Tax on All Users for USF Back in April I noted that people were just starting to realize how the FCC's nationwide broadband plan includes a proposed broadband tax on broadband service, with the FCC imposing what could be a $1-$5 a month tax on each broadband connection per month to help fund the USF and expand broadband services. The problem, as Free Press argues to The Hill, is that this extra charge on top of what's already usually very expensive service could keep lower income users from adopting broadband services. The other problem is the FCC still hasn't shown they can act like a grown up when tracking where these subsidies go. The agency is still seeking comment on the tax, with companies like AT&T, Sprint and Google all supporting it as well as Republican Commissioner Robert McDowell.
|
  RobIn Deo speramus.Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:3
2 edits | Once you go tax, you never go back. Taxes seems to be our government's solution to all problems. Can't figure out how to fix something? Tax it. Not getting the results we want? Tax it. Private companies not doing what they promised? Tax it.
One problem is that once the government starts taxing (ahem USF), they will never stop taxing. And if they stop, then companies will increase their prices by the same amount of the tax reduction.
And the last problem is, IMO, many in the FCC, FTC, and these other agencies are trying to pander to the private companies because once their term is done at these agencies, they are hoping to get a high paying, comfortable job at these places.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us | |
|  |  LinklistPremium
join:2002-03-03
Longport, NJ
kudos:5 | Re: Once you go tax, you never go back. said by Rob:Taxes seems to be our government's solution to all problems. Can't figure out how to fix something? Tax it. Not getting the results we want? Tax it. Private companies not doing what they promised? Tax it.
Just another instance of government bureaucrats trying to guarantee their jobs by getting control over more and more taxpayer dollars.
--
»www.mittromney.com/s/repeal-and-···bamacare
»www.mittromney.com/issues/health-care | |
| | | RobIn Deo speramus.Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:3 | Re: Once you go tax, you never go back. said by Linklist:said by Rob:Taxes seems to be our government's solution to all problems. Can't figure out how to fix something? Tax it. Not getting the results we want? Tax it. Private companies not doing what they promised? Tax it.
Just another instance of government bureaucrats trying to guarantee their jobs by getting control over more and more taxpayer dollars. Yes, and while Congress and the Senate debates about the Bush tax cuts, the other agencies are considering increasing/adding more taxes to the American people.
It's a smoke and mirror game.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us | |
| | | |  FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: Once you go tax, you never go back. Agencies cannot levy taxes. Only Congress can do anything with them. | |
| | | | |  NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9
 ·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: Once you go tax, you never go back. said by FBGuy:Agencies cannot levy taxes. Only Congress can do anything with them.
+1. Wish people could figure that out. | |
|
| | Reviews:
 ·Callcentric
1 edit | said by Linklist:Just another instance of government bureaucrats trying to guarantee their jobs by getting control over more and more taxpayer dollars.
Wrong again. The problem is not the concept of government. Rather, the smaller government that the Republican party promotes is inefficient. Which company downsizes to achieve economies of scale... It's the opposite.
In addition, Republicans refuse to allow a state or county to own their own telco infrastructure, yet have no answer when the beloved private sector refuse to service an area.
Of course, you then turn around and use the inefficient and ridiculous hodgepodge (USF) we are forced to setup because of your aversion to government, to prove your point against government. In layman terms, you set it up to fail, in order to support your ideology against government.
The Republican approach to government does not work. Hence, why no other developed nation on the planet uses it. Rather than accept and admit that 'your' smaller government approach is flawed, you continue to beat the same baseless points.
For example, it's the GOP that has deliberately driven our post office into the ground. However, you refuse to even ponder why Post offices abroad are not only profitable but modern and successful. | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Viodi
join:2012-10-05
San Jose, CA | Re: Once you go tax, you never go back. Here is an example of a local municipal government, where a Republican mayor, pushed for fiber to the home infrastructure in the 9th most conservative city in the U.S. As explained in the interview, that can be found at the following link, he pushed the private sector to offer an improved broadband infrastructure. It was a long road for this community to bring fiber to the home.
http://www.viodi.tv/2012/05/07/broadband-perserverance-part-1/ | |
|
|  BIGMIKEPremium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA | said by Rob:Taxes seems to be our government's solution to all problems. Can't figure out how to fix something? Tax it. Not getting the results we want? Tax it. Private companies not doing what they promised? Tax it.
One problem is that once the government starts taxing (ahem USF), they will never stop taxing. And if they stop, then companies will increase their prices by the same amount of the tax reduction.
And the last problem is, IMO, many in the FCC, FTC, and these other agencies are trying to pander to the private companies because once their term is done at these agencies, they are hoping to get a high paying, comfortable job at these places.
Feds cut off phone tax after 108 years
»www.usatoday.com/money/industrie···ax_x.htm | |
| | Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| said by Rob:One problem is that once the government starts taxing (ahem USF), they will never stop taxing.
Now, how can you say that? They only waited about 100 years to get rid of the long distance excise tax used to help fund the Spanish American War.
"And I can make a firm pledge, under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase, not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."
Now, that's change I can believe in! | |
|
 pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD |  ENOUGH!
ENOUGH ALREADY.
YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH NO BROADBAND? THAT'S YOUR FAULT. MOVE OR BUILD IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY.
STOP ROBBING THE REST OF US TO PAY FOR YOUR LUXURIES.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | Re: ENOUGH! For a change, I agree with you with regards to taxes.. this shit is getting out of hand..
At the same time, broadband is no longer a luxury anymore. It is the next type of communications, same as the telephone was back in the day.
What I do feel should be done, is that telco's should be treated as a dumb pipe, separate from content, and regulated in the same way other utilities are (especially if the telco's get their way and switch to metered billing). Although competition would be nice too.. but that might be asking for a little too much.
As a side note, your statement about moving to a new area with broadband, or paying for it with ones own money is absolutely ridiculous, considering much (with the exception of FIOS) of the broadband infrastructure was paid for with tax payer money, and using easement rights on peoples properties with little that property owners can do (ATT's uverse and those ugly ass cabinets) to prevent it. Why should I pay for service to my house when the companies have been using public funds (either through direct funding, or massive tax breaks). | |
| | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: ENOUGH! According to the government, only 19 million people out of 305 million have no access to broadband. That comes out to just over 6% of the US population. This is hardly a huge problem anymore.
said by jvanbrecht:At the same time, broadband is no longer a luxury anymore. It is the next type of communications, same as the telephone was back in the day. I agree that broadband for most people is not a luxury, but for the people who do not have it, it is clearly not a deal breaker. You don't see the 6.22% of the population with no access to broadband dying off right and left as you would if they had no access to say, clean drinking water.
said by jvanbrecht:As a side note, your statement about moving to a new area with broadband, or paying for it with ones own money is absolutely ridiculous, considering much little (with the exception of FIOS) of the broadband infrastructure was paid for with tax payer money, and using easement rights on peoples properties with little that property owners can do (ATT's uverse and those ugly ass cabinets) to prevent it. Why should I pay for service to my house when the companies have been using public funds (either through direct funding, or massive tax breaks). All utilities use easements. I'd have no problem if another privately funded provider wanted to make use of easements to offer a new broadband option. As for taxpayer subsidies, that certainly isn't true for most cable companies. And yes, I will agree with you somewhat that if a provider has to use something on your property that significantly disrupts your use of your property, you should be allowed to come to an arrangement that is mutually beneficial (free service from said provider would be nice).
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | | | Re: ENOUGH! I wouldn't use death as the criterion for what is a "deal breaker", after-all one wouldn't die without electricity ( in most cases) or water service, but in order to participate and function in modern society, would be better. | |
|
|  firephotoFacts hurtPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA | said by pnh102:ENOUGH ALREADY.
YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH NO BROADBAND? THAT'S YOUR FAULT. MOVE OR BUILD IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY.
STOP ROBBING THE REST OF US TO PAY FOR YOUR LUXURIES.
Guess what? We built it, publicly owned, fiber. Guess what happened? GTE wrote a law that made a big giant sinking handout to every incumbent ISP and new startup and forbid the utilities from offering an additional service to their customers.
The result? Big areas covered with slower than DSL Motorola Canopy systems starting at $30 a month and going up to $60 a month for 3M service.
So we tried to "PAY FOR OUR LUXURIES" and got screwed by the people who are always whining about taxes.
Quit ignoring the reality out there.
--
Say no to astroturfing. actions > Ignore Author | |
| | |  tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3
 ·Comcast
| Re: ENOUGH! said by firephoto: Guess what? We built it, publicly owned, fiber. Guess what happened? GTE wrote a law that made a big giant sinking handout to every incumbent ISP and new startup and forbid the utilities from offering an additional service to their customers.
Can you explain this more carefully? Perhaps I missed, something, but I don't remember GTE or anyone disassembling an operational ftt? system. | |
| | | | firephotoFacts hurtPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA | Re: ENOUGH! The law in washington forbids public utilities or municipalities from providing internet or network services directly to a consumer. It MUST go through a private retailer.
--
Say no to astroturfing. actions > Ignore Author | |
| | | | |  Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT | Re: ENOUGH! said by firephoto:The law in washington forbids public utilities or municipalities from providing internet or network services directly to a consumer. It MUST go through a private retailer. What if, say, a specific ISP came in and worked with the community and municipalities and deployed a working network? | |
| | | | | | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: ENOUGH! said by Simba7: What if, say, a specific ISP came in and worked with the community and municipalities and deployed a working network?
That method is in Washington ,as well as utilities or other gov't/citizen owned agentcies building and owning the network, however the actual ISP you connect to over that network must be a seperate non-gov't orgainization, something like Utopia runs.
Citizens could form a not for profit co-op, and run it as an ISP over the network, competing with the other (purely private, for profit) ISPs. | |
| | | | | | firephotoFacts hurtPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA | said by Simba7:said by firephoto:The law in washington forbids public utilities or municipalities from providing internet or network services directly to a consumer. It MUST go through a private retailer. What if, say, a specific ISP came in and worked with the community and municipalities and deployed a working network? That's allowed, it's private. Only publicly owned networks are forbidden from offering internet or network connections to end users... and providing service. I clarify the last part because in the case of the Motorola Canopy setup here it is fully deployed by the utility and ISP (they don't atually call themselves ISP's anymore here for some reason) installs the CPE.
--
Say no to astroturfing. actions > Ignore Author | |
|
| | | | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| That hasn't harmed Grant county PUD, or tacoma's network.
The law is more about insulating consumer useage from direct gov't interference, and protecting ratepayers/taxpayers from massive "bridge to nowhere" type buildouts that serve the current politicians more than they do the citizens who will pay the cost one way or the other. | |
|
| | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by firephoto:Guess what? We built it, publicly owned, fiber.
Which government entity built a fiber network?
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
| | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: ENOUGH! DOD has one | |
| | | | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: ENOUGH! DoD has M16s, M60s, rockets, bombs; things I am not allowed to play with unless I am a member of one of their agencies (I favor the M60: US Army, Retired).
They use their fiber for their purposes, I reasonably certain they don't want civilians playing on their turf.
What non-defense, non-security, agency, akin to public transit, has built a fiber network using tax funds.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
| | | | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: ENOUGH! Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture all have their own, I'm sure. I'm also sure that it isn't national and/or as beefy as DOD's. | |
| | | | | | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| Re: ENOUGH! said by FBGuy:Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture all have their own, I'm sure. I'm also sure that it isn't national and/or as beefy as DOD's.
And, of course, they were designed for the public to use ...
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
|
| | | You had me until the very last word... | |
| | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | quote:
The average taxpayer probably sees half his income go out the door in all these damn taxes.
I would LOVE to see something to substantiate that claim. | |
| | | pnh102Reptiles Are Cuddly And PrettyPremium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Re: ENOUGH! said by FBGuy: quote:
The average taxpayer probably sees half his income go out the door in all these damn taxes.
I would LOVE to see something to substantiate that claim. Go add up all the taxes you pay in a month. Not just the stuff that gets taken out of your paycheck, but everything else too... sales tax, property tax, gas tax, any excise tax, all the other taxes you pay.
In fact, I challenge everyone to do this.
You will be very surprised to see how much in total tax you pay.
--
Romney/Ryan 2012 - Put a couple of mature adults in charge. | |
| | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
 ·T-Mobile US
| Re: ENOUGH! sales tax and property tax are not functions of your income, so I don't see your point. Just because it seems like a lot compared to how much you make per month doesn't mean squat as to it being too high. maybe you live beyond your means?
I'm fine with paying ~$7k/year for property taxes on a $200k home. I'm also fine with paying 30% income taxes as long as those that make more than me pay their fair share also and don't cheat the system. It provides amazing schools, police, fire department, etc etc etc. That is the cost of not living in the ghetto. But then again, maybe people would rather have that. | |
| | | | |
See 10 replies to this post | |
| | | firephotoFacts hurtPremium
join:2003-03-18
Brewster, WA | said by pnh102:Go add up all the taxes you pay in a month. Not just the stuff that gets taken out of your paycheck, but everything else too... sales tax, property tax, gas tax, any excise tax, all the other taxes you pay.
In fact, I challenge everyone to do this.
You will be very surprised to see how much in total tax you pay.
Quit framing your presidential candidate's words so when he comes clean on the "pays lots of taxes" he references every soda and candybar he's paid taxes on.
People actually like taxes but a lot of people like yourself convince a lot other people that "taxes are bad" while making sure they ignore all the things they need every day that are the result of the evil taxes. Everytime I hear people whining about taxes I point out it would be really simple for their fire department to go away and their mcmansion can burn to the ground because they can't actually afford their own fire truck for just their own house which is what brought about the whole long list of public services that are provided by TAXES.
I don't care if you love companies that want to make sure that providing broadband internet is a cash cow and exclusive because the reality of it is that it's a UTILITY and it soon will be an actual RIGHT of everyone to have cheap and easy access to it and all the whiners will eventually not be heard from again.
--
Say no to astroturfing. actions > Ignore Author | |
|
| Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
1 edit | Wow.. I bet you're in that position, aren't ya?
The problem is, people have tried. You can thank specific ISPs that have banned, legally, any effort to actually wire themselves up.
So, they either have to wait (maybe the next decade or two) or rely on satellite or dialup.
Nice set of choices, eh? | |
| | | Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| Re: ENOUGH! said by Simba7:So, they either have to wait (maybe the next decade or two) or rely on satellite or dialup. Or move to civilization. When you choose to live in the middle of nowhere you ought to accept the limitations that go with that.
We should tax urban dwellers sewer and water bills, then those poor people in the country wouldn't have to rely on septic tanks and wells. | |
| | | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL Reviews:
·Comcast
·T-Mobile US
| Re: ENOUGH! quote:
Or move to civilization. When you choose to live in the middle of nowhere you ought to accept the limitations that go with that.
but they don't want to pay for the privilege of living in civilization(aka taxes). | |
|
| Reviews:
·Callcentric
3 edits | said by pnh102:As always, it is another tax. Federal, state, local income taxes, social security and medicare taxes, state and local sales taxes, state and local property taxes, gas tax, water tax, utility tax, cell phone tax, cable TV tax, car tax, excise tax... tax after tax after tax after tax. The average taxpayer probably sees half his income go out the door in all these damn taxes.
ENOUGH ALREADY.
Amazing how government mandates abroad required that every fee and tax be included in the price of the service - in those Big Gov Federalist nations. Therefore, when something stated $69.95 for example, that is all I paid. Not to mention, not only were the services cheaper, but faster and of better value too. | |
| |  VanPremium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA | said by pnh102:YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH NO BROADBAND? THAT'S YOUR FAULT. MOVE OR BUILD IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY.
Sounds like the typical Republican answer. Scream at the person, love the company screwing the person, and crying about taxes yet needing someone else to do them for you every year because they are too complicated | |
| | | | | Re: ENOUGH! In addition, borrow and waste $4 Trillion on two wars but cry murder at the thought of investing a dime in America on Americans. | |
| | | | | | NormanSPremium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
kudos:9 Reviews:
·SONIC.NET
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by Van:Sounds like the typical Republican answer ...
Why just bash Republicans? Democrats are just as bad!
Again, I ask: Have I stumbled into the "Blue Room"?
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum | |
|
| decifal
join:2007-03-10
Bon Aqua, TN
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Verizon Broadban..
| said by pnh102:As always, it is another tax. Federal, state, local income taxes, social security and medicare taxes, state and local sales taxes, state and local property taxes, gas tax, water tax, utility tax, cell phone tax, cable TV tax, car tax, excise tax... tax after tax after tax after tax. The average taxpayer probably sees half his income go out the door in all these damn taxes.
ENOUGH ALREADY.
YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH NO BROADBAND? THAT'S YOUR FAULT. MOVE OR BUILD IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY.
STOP ROBBING THE REST OF US TO PAY FOR YOUR LUXURIES.
Not really our fault for being in an area that service hasn't been built out to.. some times its regulators screwing thing sup, sometimes its over looked.. Not all without broadband is a resident at a extreme rural location with 12 miles from the nearest neighbor...
That being said, a tax is likely not the answer.. More like opening up for people to come in areas claimed by comcast/att to compete/provide where currently they seem prohibited.. | |
| | Reviews:
·Air Advantage
 ·HughesNet Satell..
| said by pnh102:As always, it is another tax. Federal, state, local income taxes, social security and medicare taxes, state and local sales taxes, state and local property taxes, gas tax, water tax, utility tax, cell phone tax, cable TV tax, car tax, excise tax... tax after tax after tax after tax. The average taxpayer probably sees half his income go out the door in all these damn taxes.
ENOUGH ALREADY.
YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WITH NO BROADBAND? THAT'S YOUR FAULT. MOVE OR BUILD IT WITH YOUR OWN MONEY.
STOP ROBBING THE REST OF US TO PAY FOR YOUR LUXURIES.
so i guess we should just pack up all the farmers and move them to the big cities. who needs food right? | |
| | | Simba7I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT | Re: ENOUGH! said by chances14:so i guess we should just pack up all the farmers and move them to the big cities. who needs food right? Ya. Why grow our own food when we can import it from other countries?
We've become so fsckin' lazy and self-centered that it makes me sick. | |
| | | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| said by chances14: so i guess we should just pack up all the farmers and move them to the big cities. who needs food right?
Nobody is opposed to farmers having internet, In fact a lot of us understand they they would be able to be better farmers, and better salesman and make more money and avoid raising prices with better connectivity for WORK (sorry not gaming, not netflix, not cute cat videos) and that Adequate speeds with acceptable latency for those purposes can be had in a fairly short time frame at fairly affordable prices via satellite and fixed broadband and LTE to most locations.
And many of use are not opposed to assisting with the greater cost of reaching your area, and will even pay a few cents on the dollar toward building out faster future services at least to higher density areas.
what you can't reasonable expect is everyone but the 19 million unserved to do is pay 10-20% more (or higher) FOREVER just to give you MAXIMUM speeds, at MINIMUM latency (which many of us don't have either) for a price equal or less than we pay now, and certainly not for gaming and entertainment video, and other NON ESSENTIAL uses. | |
| | | | Reviews:
·Air Advantage
·HughesNet Satell..
| Re: ENOUGH! well the attitude of the op of the post i quoted sure seemed oppose to rural areas having internet. it just annoys me when i read such short sighted comments from city folks such as "if you want broadband, then move."
I live in a rural area and from people i've talked to, they don't want the latest and greatest internet, they would be more than happy with even 1.5 mbps dsl. heck, i'm on a 1mbps plan from my local WISP and it more than adequate for my internet needs. | |
| | | | | tshirtPremium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: ENOUGH! And that is reasonable, you have your WISP and may get a faster LTE version offered within a couple/few years, if you current have cell phone coverage maybe a year or 2 longer if you're just outside that radius.
I thing the anger is when it is suggested (as often happens here) that you (the collective you/ rural crowd group) MUST have symmetric 1GBPS+ fiber NOW at everyone elses expense, even if that makes broadband unaffordable to many of us.
Don't collapse the existing system until you can guarantee something better. | |
|
Reviews:
·ooma
·Optimum Online
 ·Verizon FiOS
| tax, or subsidy? Without a specific defined policy goal any USF tax on broadband would be wasteful.. It seems the government should be doing more with the taxes on telecom (they already collect... inclusive of grafting $6+ for POT$ FCC line charge) and directing it back into the communities where it comes from.. not for taxes levied in NY to be subsidizing $12k routers in West Virginia they don't need or want... and other fraud, waste & abuse! You're telling me $12k couldn't have brought a fiber line to that library?!? PFFT! | |
| | | | Re: tax, or subsidy? said by tmc8080:You're telling me $12k couldn't have brought a fiber line to that library?!? PFFT!
In the year the abuse occurred, in West Virginia? No, it couldn't have. Outside of Verizon's FiOS project, fiber costs are well over $12,000 a mile to just string on a pole. That doesn't even include the costs of the CPE at one end and the fiber plant at the other. | |
| | | Reviews:
·ooma
·Optimum Online
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: tax, or subsidy? said by AnonFTW :said by tmc8080:You're telling me $12k couldn't have brought a fiber line to that library?!? PFFT!
In the year the abuse occurred, in West Virginia? No, it couldn't have. Outside of Verizon's FiOS project, fiber costs are well over $12,000 a mile to just string on a pole. That doesn't even include the costs of the CPE at one end and the fiber plant at the other. MOST central offices in the eastern USA have fiber supplying copper networks becasue of the run-up in saving money on trasport costs-- that's why the northeast is LOADED with bundles of fiber.. it would be insane for a telecom central office not to have a fiber line (single bundle) to supply MORE than the needs of 64kbit voice calls..
Maybe you're factoring in Verizon's union labor costs at about $60/hour plus benefits... of course it would be more than $12k.
Try $10 an hour like subcontractors pay newbies to climb cell phone towers.. with NO benefits. At this cost, it would be worth it for even cablecoms to install fiber, that is if they weren't so damn protective of Video subscription service.
BTW, yes you have to assume there is already a central office/head-end with fiber in-town to hookup to.. | |
|
 jjoshuaPremium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
kudos:3 | Tax on a tax I need to pay USF for my broadband connection and then I need to pay USF for my VOIP line which uses the same broadband connection?
Where will it stop? | |
| |
See 8 replies to this post | |
 n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY | A Reason To Oppose It Frankly, if the carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint support it (I noted that Verizon was not mentioned in this particular article but in another) then it is definitely bad news for the taxpayer. I guess they are all hoping it will be as badly run as the USF and that all they need to do is collect the money, apply it to their profit sheet and never lift one finger to do any real work.
Of course with the do nothing congress, I cannot see them summoning up the votes to block it.
--
I support the right to keep and arm bears. | |
| | Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | Re: A Reason To Oppose It said by n2jtx:Frankly, if the carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and Sprint support it (I noted that Verizon was not mentioned in this particular article but in another) then it is definitely bad news for the taxpayer. Not only that but if AT&T and Verizon are supporting this tax it is a certainty the money is not going where it is needed the most. | |
|
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | AT&T, Sprint and Google Support it... Of course they do. They have a sweet tooth and of course they support the idea of the government forcing their subscribers to give them more candy.
Just more corporate welfare. | |
| | | Call it a fee If you just call it a fee, Mitt Romney will be leading the charge. He never saw a fee he didn't like. | |
| | RobIn Deo speramus.Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
kudos:3 | Re: Call it a fee said by rdmiller:If you just call it a fee, Mitt Romney will be leading the charge. He never saw a fee he didn't like.
I didn't know Mitt was the President, who appointed the chairman of the FCC.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us | |
| | | FBGuyPremium
join:2005-03-19
Evanston, IL | Re: Call it a fee since when does the FCC have any power? | |
| | | | mworks
join:2006-06-13
Faison, NC | Re: Call it a fee said by FBGuy:since when does the FCC have any power?
The FCC has power by allowing the people they are supposed to be supervising to be the ones making the decisions. The prisoners are the guards.
People on the FCC boards can't take money directly, but they can get assurances from telecom that when the members leave the FCC they have a nice job with a huge bonus waiting for them. | |
|
 sbrookPremium,Mod
join:2001-12-14
Ottawa
kudos:4
·TekSavvy Cable
| Government ? Government of the people, by the Corporation, for the Corporation ... or to put it a different way ... to ensure power for those in the upper echelons of the big companies to earn more money than they can use in a lifetime. One can't really even say it's for the shareholders since so many companies pay no or small dividends. The money being made in the markets is a loss for others, just like playing poker ... The winner gets the money the others at the table lose. For every winner, there are lots of losers.
This kind of tax is just the arm of the greedy in corporations reaching their grubby fingers out to earn more money via government instead of raising their own bills.
We are owned by corporations. We don't own the corporations. Our governments are owned by the corporations ... we have next to no say in our government. | |
| mworks
join:2006-06-13
Faison, NC | Use the money telecom has already been given How about they use all the money that telecom got 10 years ago when they promised 100% broadband ,45Mbps connections to every home, that was supposed to be completed 5 years ago.
Telecom is the greediest, sneakiest, most underhanded corporations on the planet. If anything they need less support from the government and more for the consumer.
Take away that last mile to the home and put it under utility laws where I can buy service from anyone, not just the local monopoly.
Only several hundred billion stolen by telecom, but who is counting.
»www.newnetworks.com/broadbandscandals.htm | |
| PaxioPremium
join:2011-02-23
Santa Clara, CA
kudos:1 | I wish consumers would get involved Make no mistake, the Federal Government is seeking to make your ISP another tax collector, this time for the "universal service fund" (which should properly be called the "unaccountable slush fund"). They are proposing to charge the highest rates for service that is truly "broadband" such as our 100M/100M and 1G/1G service.
I have to tell you honestly, your ISP will NOT pay this charge. They will not "eat" it. They will pass it directly to YOU on your bill. Since it will affect all ISPs, there is no incentive any single ISP to spend a lot of time and money trying to alter FCC policy. (As a small ISP we have no budget for lobbying the FCC to begin with.)
IT IS UP TO YOU!!! You must contact the FCC and your reps in Congress to get this plan stopped. You can do it, but ONLY YOU. If you do nothing but complain here and on other forums, you might as well start digging into your wallet because this rule will pass.
Joe Barnhart | |
|
| |
|
|
