pcscdma
Chocobo Chocobo Random Battle
Premium
join:2004-01-14
Winterset, IA
clubs:
| Regulation or no regulation
I wish these Vonage people would figure out the whole regulation thing. If you don't want to be regulated stop filing comments with the FCC. The FTC is probably more suited to such a thing. The FCC will have to recover the costs of enforcing network neutrality with VoIP and they have to get the money somewhere. VoIP bills are the logical choice for this.
Dumbasses.
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"The bad news is that we are told that Michael Powell, one of Washington's better bureaucrats, is calling it quits today after four years at the helm of the Federal Communications Commission." - WSJ 2005/01/21 |
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lesopp
join:2001-06-27
Land O Lakes, FL | Pardon my question
I almost got it but then decided against VoIP. Since I don't have Vonage I don't know the answer, but aren't they already charging a "regulatory cost recovery" fee? |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | its the normal 3% federal tax most if not all VoIP providers are charging. |
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claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| said by hottboiinnc  :its the normal 3% federal tax most if not all VoIP providers are charging. The "Regulatory Recovery Fee $1.50" that Vonage includes in its invoices, and similarly named fees that most other communications providers are charging, are not taxes. They are not mandated by any tax or by the goverment. They are fees a vendor adds to make their advertised price lower while collecting extra money to pay for their operating expenses. The fees are going directly and only into the vendor's pockets. In other words, they are part of the cost of doing business, disguised as some kind of government mandate, with wording that sort of implies that it is some form of tax. It is not. Dealing with government regulation and paying taxes is part and parcel of doing business. This dishonest practice--some would say fraudulent, because the fee is not included in the advertised price and is often brought up only after the customer has been locked in or has invested time or money, and cannot back off without a loss--is unfortunately widespread and tolerated in the US. In most other civilized countries the law would come down on this practice like a ton of bricks. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA
| reply to pcscdma
Re: Regulation or no regulation
said by pcscdma :I wish these Vonage people would figure out the whole regulation thing. If you don't want to be regulated stop filing comments with the FCC. The FTC is probably more suited to such a thing. The FCC will have to recover the costs of enforcing network neutrality with VoIP and they have to get the money somewhere. VoIP bills are the logical choice for this. Dumbasses. R U NUTZ?
The FCC is the agency with the (possible) regulatory authority over VoIP. Believe me, they are more likely to regulate you if you leave them with the impression that you will passively go along with it.
As for complaints about improper action by other carriers, the FCC is the body with authority over those carriers. If you take telecom complaints to the FTC, they will tell you to go to the FCC.
calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to claudeo
Re: Pardon my question
so you're telling me and everyone else that there is no such thing as the Federal Tax of 3% or any other tax they use for on the Internet or Communciations?
i think you're wrong there bubba. |
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claudeo
join:2000-02-23
Redmond, WA
| said by hottboiinnc :so you're telling me and everyone else that there is no such thing as the Federal Tax of 3% or any other tax they use for on the Internet or Communciations? i think you're wrong there bubba. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that there is no such thing as a government mandated "regulatory compliance fee" and that it is not a government tax. If/when there is a real tax it shows up as some other line item(s) on your invoice. |
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