satellite68
join:2007-04-11
Louisville, KY | As well it should
I don't like paying a fee for a service I'm not using. Why should I? As if the Deathstar can't/won't afford to deploy POTS. What a load of hooey. |
|
Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL | Even if they win, would prices come down?
I doubt that, even if the State decided not to collect USF, that Vonage would lower the costs. Instead, they would replace the dying USF that lines the pocket of our government, with another tax that lines the pocket of Vonage. |
|
newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD
| Can you please sue Maryland next?
Why am I paying this fee?
quote:
Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan for 1-(***)-***-**** (26/Jan-25/Feb) $14.99
Regulatory Recovery Fee $0.99
Emergency 911 Cost Recovery $0.99
Federal Universal Service Fee $1.27
County 911 Fee $0.75
State 911 Fee $0.25
Total Amount $19.24
--
Ö¿Ö
The Rules of Spam | Maryland's Newest Anti-Spam Law
Where are we going? And what's with the hand basket? |
|
tshirt
Premium,MVM
join:2004-07-11
Snohomish, WA
 ·Comcast
| said by newview  :Why am I paying this fee? quote:
Federal Universal Service Fee $1.27
If it's a federal fee, what good is sueing the state? |
|
Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs: | reply to Rob
Re: Even if they win, would prices come down?
Atleast it would be going to someone you do business with, rather than charging you to hand money to AT&T/Verizon! |
|
TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
|  All USF funds should die ....
... but as long as they live, then all providers of telephone service should pay. There shouldn't be different fees for different types of phone service.
Both Federal and state USF funds should be ended. If the states feel that taxpayer money is needed to wire rural areas, let them fund that thru the normal tax methods states use to fund their operations. |
|
kingofdsl
join:2002-12-11
Afton, OK | No just the opposite.
We need and must get more and more fees and taxes.
Only way to get people fed up to the point of revolution. |
|
PolarBear
The bear formerly known as aaron8301
Premium
join:2005-01-03 | And when was the last time the people of this country revolted against ANYTHING?
You have a good idea, king, but it will never happen. |
|
sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
·Optimum Online
| reply to TKJunkMail
said by TKJunkMail :... but as long as they live, then all providers of telephone service should pay. There shouldn't be different fees for different types of phone service. And how about non-phone services?
This is a good one... I work with a covad partner and they buy "layer 2" circuits from covad, meaning that we get an OC-3 to covad and our DSL and T1 customers' traffic is backhauled to us and we provide the internet service. We pay the 10.2% FUSF on every one of these non-phone circuits. On higher-priced circuits like T1 and SDSL, that's a really big chunk of change.
Now if we just resell a line where covad provides the backhaul, no FUSF because it's "internet service".
Total crock-o-shit. |
|
lordofwhee
join:2007-10-21
Everett, WA | reply to PolarBear
About 200 years ago.
I think we're due for another revolution. |
|
knightmb
Everybody Lies
join:2003-12-01
Franklin, TN
 ·AT&T DSL Service
| reply to satellite68
Re: As well it should
If look over my Vonage bill history, it started out small with just a little tax FET and Regulatory Recovery Fee.
Oct 2006 is when the Federal Universal Service Fee started for all of us Vonage folk and stayed every since.
I find the irony in that Vonage has remained the same price, it's only the tax and fees and local whatever they can add part that inflates the price so much.
Now it's polluted with
quote:
Regulatory Recovery Fee $4.95
Emergency 911 Cost Recovery $4.95
State Telecommunications Sales Tax $8.15
Federal Universal Service Fee $5.99
County 911 Fee $5.00
State E911 Fee $5.00
|
|
Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | reply to Camelot One
Even if they win they could lose
The problem is that the number of landlines that pay into the USF is declining and that means USF revenues are declining. Expect that money grubbing members of Congress will make sure that decline in revenues is reversed one way or another. |
|
MrMoody
But the Grinch ... did Not.
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
 ·Skype
·magicjack.com
| reply to PolarBear
Re: All USF funds should die ....
said by PolarBear :And when was the last time the people of this country revolted against ANYTHING? 1861, when some of the states revolted against federal control. And we all know how much good it did them.
--
The public is a poor business manager. |
|
Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA | reply to lordofwhee
Who would revolt against King George? |
|
Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Sarasota, FL
clubs: | reply to Sammer
Re: Even if they win they could lose
Yeah, there has been a decline in the telco slush fund. Show me what we are paying for, then I'll consider paying it. |
|
factchecker
@cox.net
| reply to TKJunkMail
Re: All USF funds should die ....
said by TKJunkMail :Both Federal and state USF funds should be ended. If the states feel that taxpayer money is needed to wire rural areas, let them fund that thru the normal tax methods states use to fund their operations. Or have the rate payers in those areas pay slightly more to offset the costs of living in the boonies.
The USF does need to stay for one reason and only one reason - the eRate program for schools and libraries. Yes, it has some problems, but nothing an updated set of rules based on past experience can't fix (our company does eRate work and has seen it). |
|
factchecker
@cox.net
| reply to MrMoody
1861, when some of the states revolted against federal control. And we all know how much good it did them. Think that was bad, imagine what would happen now if the populace revolted and the military responded. Even if it was justified, it would not be pretty for average people against Humvees, tanks and aircraft. |
|
MrMoody
But the Grinch ... did Not.
join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC | Yep. The closest we've come since the internal combustion engine was the immensely unpopular Viet Nam War, and police alone were enough to keep that from getting too out of hand.
--
The public is a poor business manager. |
|
morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:
·Charter Pipeline
·AT&T Southwest
| reply to factchecker
since you have experience with it, what are the actual "rates" charged by telco for eRate??
also, are USF funds restricted to telco services or can it be used by cableco to provide internet, etc?
it's difficult to imagine how $1.50 on every phone line is justified for the amounts charged for schools and libraries. think about it. schools on average need a few t-1 lines or eqivalent. |
|
priller
join:2000-10-20
Gainesville, VA
·voip.ms
·Callcentric
·Vonage
·callwithus
1 edit | reply to knightmb
Re: As well it should
Regulatory Recovery Fee $4.95
That's the fee that customers should be suing Vonage over. That's a non-government fee. It's the cost of doing business and they pass it on as a "fee" instead of raising prices.
I'm a 5 year Vonage customer and have just about had it with these "fees".
---------------------------------------------
Regulatory Recovery Fee $1.98
Emergency 911 Cost Recovery $1.98
Federal Universal Service Fee $3.30
State Communications Service Tax $2.36
State 911 Fee $1.50 |
|
