ib50MbSoon
Formerly TwoKDialup
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Coloma, MI
| reply to LegoPower77
Re: I say
From the FCC Website at »www.fcc.gov/wcb/universal_service/
The goals of Universal Service, as mandated by the 1996 Act, are to promote the availability of quality services at just, reasonable, and affordable rates; increase access to advanced telecommunications services throughout the Nation; advance the availability of such services to all consumers, including those in low income, rural, insular, and high cost areas at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas. In addition, the 1996 Act states that all providers of telecommunications services should contribute to Federal universal service in some equitable and nondiscriminatory manner; there should be specific, predictable, and sufficient Federal and State mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service; all schools, classrooms, health care providers, and libraries should, generally, have access to advanced telecommunications services; and finally, that the Federal-State Joint Board and the Commission should determine those other principles that, consistent with the 1996 Act, are necessary to protect the public interest.
That paragraph sure sounds nice but last time I checked on ISDN prices it would cost approx $300 to install and $180/mo in recurring fees, ISP not included. Hardly what I call "just, reasonable, or affordable". I don't know where all that USF money is going but its not helping this "bumkin".
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The whole truth and nothing but the truth at »www.teletruth.org
[text was edited by author 2003-06-10 16:07:35] |
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Smokey
Even drunk on a bet ya make it to Canada
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs:
 ·Cox HSI
|  As I have said in the other forum, I have no problem with the usf, As the law intended it to work. But it dose not work in that way! The monies do not fund making the service in rural areas better, it goes to making the Telco’s richer. Just the thought of B. Ebbers getting his hoofs on this money pisses me off
»End the USF?!?
also this is a good line of comments!
»FCC's power to tax
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If there is any realistic deterrent to marriage, it's the fact that you can't afford divorce.
-- Jack Nicholson
[text was edited by author 2003-06-10 16:11:50]
[text was edited by author 2003-06-10 16:13:54] |
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aztecnology
O Rly?
Premium
join:2003-02-12
Murrieta, CA
 ·Verizon FIOS
|  reply to ib50MbSoon
said by ib50MbSoon  :
at rates that are reasonably comparable to those charged in urban areas.
There's the loophole - Charge the same for it everywhere...
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.:|:. Starband 360 ~ W2KAS ~ DLINK DI-714P+ ~ XPro ~ XPro |
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Smokey
Even drunk on a bet ya make it to Canada
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs: | ya, Whats Reasonable??? The gov has a hard time filling in that blank! |
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LegoPower77
Abecedarian
Premium
join:2002-08-03
Arlington, VA
| reply to ib50MbSoon
My point is that there are trade-offs as to where you live. In the city, you get close access to work, a night life, and of course, less-expensive broadband. But you also get smog, noise, and a high cost of living. In the country, you get nature, scenery, and a quiet life. But you also have to drive ten miles to the store and pay higher prices for broadband. How about we start a fund to help subsidize country people's gasoline bill since they have to drive further to the store?
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»www.gmu.edu/departments/economic···any.html |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA
| reply to Smokey
Not only that but as Californians pay $2.30-$2.60/gal during the summer for gasoline, how about a USF so we pay the same at the South East? How about a USF for electricity and water rates? No reason why one person should pay $40/mo and another pay $10 for monthly sewer rates. How about a USF that makes freight rates with UPS, Fedex and Airborne flat versus distance based...seeing as in telecom the actual cost of delivery is to be ignored and absorbed by everyone else. How about a USF that builds airports everywhere since everyone should be entitled to fair and just air fares.
Hell, let's just have a 100% tax and have daddy government hand out what we get like Smurfberries.
People who move into the middle of nowhere know what they're getting into. If you want or need certain services then you should think about that when you choose a place to reside.
Don't move to the moon then bitch that you aren't getting cable internet.
[text was edited by author 2003-06-10 18:29:59] |
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Smokey
Even drunk on a bet ya make it to Canada
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| not sure, but u do pay it. In az its called HURF highway user fund. so again ur paying oliphant!! Nad why cant i get my net on the moon???
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If there is any realistic deterrent to marriage, it's the fact that you can't afford divorce. -- Jack Nicholson |
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major marco
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA
clubs:
| reply to oliphant5
said by oliphant5 :
Not only that but as Californians pay $2.30-$2.60/gal during the summer for gasoline,
You're only paying $2.60/gallon tops??? I have to travel between Monterey County and San Diego and I've seen 87 Octane jacked up to $2.99 down there starting Memorial Day thru Labor Day.
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A good scapegoat is almost as good as a solution.»www.digitalconsumer.org |
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zoom314
Superman
Premium
join:2001-04-30
Yermo, CA
| reply to ib50MbSoon
Besides what in the heck does the 1996 Telecommunications Act have to do with Cable? Last time I looked the Cable TV/ISP providers aren't or haven't ever been a Telco at all. So, FCC (Michael Powell) Keep Your Hands off of Cable, It's not Telephone related service without voice capability and ethernet isn't a phone technology at all and neither is Cable TV service for that matter.
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Charter Pipeline rules in Hesperia, CA, Verizon sucks..... |
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| reply to major marco
You should live where I live. Not to stray to far off topic but I have only paid $174 tops for gas. Also the USF is just another attempt at socialism, kind of like the new tax cuts. Why don't the poor get the advantage of the cuts you ask? Because you can't get a tax cut for a tax you didn't pay. |
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Smokey
Even drunk on a bet ya make it to Canada
Premium
join:2003-05-20
Va Beach
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| reply to zoom314
the telecom act has the power to regulate all forms of communicatins, it was that large of a bill! Its also what allowed the cable services that we have today
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If there is any realistic deterrent to marriage, it's the fact that you can't afford divorce. -- Jack Nicholson |
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mrs213
join:2002-05-25
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to zoom314
That was terribly lucid.
The FCC needs jurisdiction over cable services, if they're going to compete in the same space/serve the same functions as Our Friends the Phone Comp'nies. The FCC is not just about phone: it's about communications (see the acronym for more information). If they can regulate broadcast radio and TV, cable is a simple leap.
Don't let blind anger screw up your logic. I'm not sure I like Powell very much either, but hey. |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA | reply to Smokey
I don't think WorldCom was ever a recipient of USF monies while Ebbers was there. They didn't go into the areas USF supports.
Calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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calvoiper
join:2003-03-31
Belvedere Tiburon, CA | reply to LegoPower77
Uh, actually, you'll find that urban, not rural, folks have longer average commutes....
Calvoiper
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VoIP--the death knell of remaining voice monopolies! |
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LegoPower77
Abecedarian
Premium
join:2002-08-03
Arlington, VA | Perhaps, but the point is the same. |
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dirtcyclr
join:2003-06-13
Montana
| reply to calvoiper
Re: I say --> Another perspective!
said by calvoiper :
Uh, actually, you'll find that urban, not rural, folks have longer average commutes....
Calvoiper
Urban commutes may be longer timewise, but not even close in mileage! I've lived under both circumstances (CA Bay Area vs. Eastern Montana). Once again, this is a decision that you have to make based on what you want out of life... I agree that the government should not play a role in evening out what you see as being unfair cost of living (i.e. gas prices and housing costs), economics should control that.
The USF is not about controlling prices, but rather providing a financial avenue for equal opportunity. I think "Americans" should have an opportunity to have access to basic utilities such as telephone, electricity, etc. Technologies such as fiber optics can make it all possible, but "big business" wouldn't even think of doing such a thing because the returns are not in their favor!
It costs over 10 times the national average per local loop to provide POTS where I live, so without USF it would be completely impossible for my co-op to even provide telephone service, let alone any "advanced telecommunications" services such as DSL (which i do have by the way).
I would also like to add that there are now rural areas such as mine that actually have better broadband services than some urban areas. This is not because Universal Service Funds have been misplaced, it is because my services are provided by a smaller company/co-op that believes in offering quality services with a personal touch. The whole USF issue centers around combatting greed and the hunger for power/control, it makes everyone on both sides of the fence unhappy at times. |
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BrooklynZoo
For Everthing Else, There's Mastercard
join:2001-04-01
Atlanta, GA | Interesting perspective.  |
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LegoPower77
Abecedarian
Premium
join:2002-08-03
Arlington, VA
| reply to dirtcyclr
Fair enough (even with the leftist code words, e.g., "big business," "greed", etc.  ). But I ax, is there some point where we can acknowledge that wiring is done and discontinue the tax? I hear that we are still paying some charge that was levied on phone bills in the 1900s to help pay for the Spanish-American War (I can find documentation but too lazy right now). The trouble with these programs and taxes is that they never end (while we put sunset provisions on tax relief). Al Gore's tax to wire schools is case in point —they are almost all wired now, will the tax end?
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»www.gmu.edu/departments/economic···any.html |
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oliphant5
Got Identity?
Premium
join:2003-05-24
Corona, CA | The Spanish-American war tax is also known as the excise tax. The tax will never end because in this talk about greed, there is no more greedy entity than the Federal government. |
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