| New strategy needed Right now cable companies and voip companies have a clear advantage over the old telcos. One of two things is gotta happen, some of that burden MUST be shared by cable companies for providing phone service. USF fees are going to a corrupt organization and is rife with fraud. Now the only thing to do with that puppy is euthanize, and begin anew. All usf requests should apply directly to the fcc for subsizies and the fund should be FAIRLY distributed between ALL communications services, except internet access which has a general moratorium of fees. Now, this is my formula:
POTS: 20%
VOIP: 15%
Cell Phone: 15%
Federal Govt Subsidy: 50% (Yes, that's right, the federal gov't should be footing half the USF!)
HMM, where to that that 50% from, cable companies can kick in 1/3, broadcast tv 1/3, and any foreign owned communcations providers 1/3.
One major goal should be set for broadband, as being reachable to every town, throughout the country by either one of the broadband flavors (excluding satellite): DSL, CABLEMODEM, FIBER, WIFI. Bare-Minimum speeds should be 1.5megabits symmetric with 100/100mbit being the holy grail-sweet spot.
Also, there should be some MAJOR legislative reform on franchise rights for companies delivering fiber services. Telcos are burdened with the old regime of taxes and surcharges which make up about 20% of a consumers' POTS phone bill. THIS MUST CHANGE! Either by eliminating these fees or applying them to voip evenly, for example... if VOIP provider who owns the last mile should be responsible for their fair share of surcharges: 911, etc, etc.
This is all in hopes that the charges become more fairly distributed and become "LESS" of a burden for all. There is NO SANE reason to be paying $20 for POTS taxes and fees: PERIOD!!
A flat tax of 5-10$ is more equitable for example if ALL PAY IT! regardless of communications method: voip, pots, tin-can, etc... i'm talking about anything that links to the PSTN network for calling. |
