notquitefair
@qwest.net
| Make them build out
It is somewhat unfair. Not only does Qwest get taxed, but they are also required to provide dialtone service to all households in their service areas. If Comcast wants to offer phone service, then they should have to provide the same dialtone service to all houses in their areas. Right now Comcast doesnt have to provide anything to anyone. |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
 ·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
| then if thats the case then Comcast and every other cable company wants in on that USF money as well.
Why should one get it and not the other. After all we have to level the playing field.
and Rainwind- are you ready to pay more for your phone services? TWC will have to tax you for the USF, their "other taxes and fees" the Federal Access charge, the city tax, state tax, federal tax. Everything has to be even. |
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viperlmw
Premium
join:2005-01-25
 ·Qwest.net
| said by hottboiinnc  :then if thats the case then Comcast and every other cable company wants in on that USF money as well. Why should one get it and not the other. After all we have to level the playing field. and Rainwind- are you ready to pay more for your phone services? TWC will have to tax you for the USF, their "other taxes and fees" the Federal Access charge, the city tax, state tax, federal tax. Everything has to be even. If cablecos deploy phone service into rural areas, then yes, they should get USF, just like cell phone companies and rural independent telcos. However, dial tone is dial tone, and it's all analog when it hits the phone set. But it's all digital when it hits the network/switch. So yes, the fees and taxes should be the same for the service, irregardless of the company providing the service. The FCC was wrong (imagine that!) when they declared VoIP an information service. |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
1 edit | the fees and taxes are NOT imposed by the Feds or the states. If you actually call the phone company they will tell you that they have no clue what that line is for except for taxes or fees they're allowed to charge but are NOT required.
They could charge what ever they wanted in that line and you would have no clue what the money would go toward. We still have no clue what it goes to today.
And i don't know how you claim that VoIP is not an information service? without the internet it does not work for the most part- Vonage, Magic Jack, Packet8/8x8, Teleblend, ViaTalk, and all the other providers. Hell since FWD is actually a VoIP product they should be taxed as well.
And if Comcast or TWC were to get the USF they would be one step ahead of the Telco's so they'd go back and cry some more that Cable is beating them hands down with cable customers and they'd have to many and wouldn't be able to offer services anyway. You and I both know that too. |
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