| reply to en102
Federal Subscriber Line Charge going up? Re: the Federal SLC (called the "SLICK" by those in the know in telecom) is 95%+ profit back to Verizon. As TWC's ads showed last year, the "sir charges" get you and, while small, represent in many cases (not all) pure profits back to VZ and at&t. This allows them to advertise a teaser rate and still make a very healthy profit.
The SLC will go up in the interconnection rules the FCC is looking at because Verizon needs to be "made whole" on changes in the long distance access rates (which are paid to between telecom companies and are a true vestige of the 1980s). There has been far too little said about the "make us whole" provision that all incumbent telcos are making in light of other hands in the government and financial pots today.
However, raising the base rate to consumers and small businesses in this time is just going to make TWC's and Comcast's products more attractive. Truth in advertising should kick in and make VZ and at&t (and the cable companies) show the total monthly cost of service in all advertising. |
