More Tax $$$ From Broadband?

This will give the DSL and Cable companies another excuses to raise our monthly bill which has already gone up, I don't know in the past year 20% or 30%. It has to stop somewhere. Can't they see that in the past year more then 19 telcom companies has filed for bankruptcy.

Sure, it's not a "Tax." It's a "Fee." Right. It's a Tax, an open-ended monster of a tax with a license to grow and grow to support unlimited waste and padding in a lame Social Welfare program, for that's exactly what it is. I was opposed to it then and remained even more convinced now...

Don't get me wrong, the idea of Internet access in schools and libraries is a noble goal--- but the idea that "low income" (i.e. make more money then people who work for a living) should get free or heavily subsidized (and the push is on for it to be broadband too) Internet access and that you and I should pay for it is a crock-- it's just another welfare handout.

The current system for assigning costs and billings to the USF (which then causes the constant increases you keep seeing on your telephone, long distance, wireless etc bills) is also so wasteful it borders on fraud--- which it is... of the general public.

Why should Cable subscribers have to pay a USF? They already pay it on phone service/long distance/wireless etc. Answer: Simple--- More "Tax" dollars needed.

This must not happen.

said by LOSER_BOY:

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This will give the DSL and Cable companies another excuses to raise our monthly bill which has already gone up, I don't know in the past year 20% or 30%. It has to stop somewhere. Can't they see that in the past year more then 19 telcom companies has filed for bankruptcy.

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Don't blame the DSL and cable companies for this one. This is a tax increase, plain and simple. Another opportunity for the lame brains in DC to suck us dry! What can we do about this? The FCC isn't elected. I am surprised this is getting traction under the Bush administration.

Where are those Minute Men (not the band) when you need them ? This is another form or revenue raising, TAXATION... How can we suck more money out of our citizens without them really realizing what's going on ? Don't think for a second that the cable companies are going to absorb this. It will be passed along to us. I vote no. Where's the petition to sign to be against this ? Do you know how expensive cable is already ? Tax the middle class. Tax the poor. Tax their TV and their broadband. Bastards. I am ready to join the revolution.

this is BS i dont even have DSL yet for another week and this is going to happen?? HELLLLLLLLLLLLL NO i will call whoever i need FCC and others.. where do i find this info Please help..

Ps i need to call my congres man as well to not turndown the bill to let the bells run all over us..

Everyone wants everything.

You were born to give life to the politicians.
You will pay for their families every need.

You will work for everything and have nothing.
Because there is a TAX on EVERYTHING!!!!!! Nothing is without a TAX of some kind. Not even air. Depending on which state you live in, in order for you to be able to drive you have to pay $19.50 every 2 years to see if you car can pass the emissions test.
I will bet any amount of money that some time in the near future people will have an implanted device to measure the amount of air they breath. Then at years end you will be charged a tax on that air.

said by looser:

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I will bet any amount of money that some time in the near future people will have an implanted device to measure the amount of air they breath. Then at years end you will be charged a tax on that air.

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And if you can't afford it? (Shudder.)

said by KrK:

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Don't get me wrong, the idea of Internet access in schools and libraries is a noble goal--- but the idea that "low income" (i.e. make more money then people who work for a living) should get free or heavily subsidized (and the push is on for it to be broadband too) Internet access and that you and I should pay for it is a crock-- it's just another welfare handout.

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Why not? Its only fair to get screwed by the poor in equal amounts as we are by the rich. Most of the welfare in the US goes to corporations and their CEOs. If you took the bonuses the CEOs take, each corporation could employ all our our jobless in America. We dont seek to do that though.

I thought the reason they wanted to remove the regulations on the phone companies was because they couldn't compete with the cable companies lack of 'regulation'.

If that is the case, then after they remove the Telco's regulation, things should be even. So why then are they going forward with taxing the Cablecos. It seems like there should be one or the other, not both. The cablecos lobbyiest seem to be failing miserably.

Yes this is a tax, and I consider it fair since the telcos have to pay it currently. The problem is that without FULL regulation these companies will just pass the tax onto end users. And even with FULL regulation, the companies STILL pass the cost on, by lieing and burying the fees and/or paying off the companies who investigate. Remember the yearly price increase which happened as SOON as the cablecos got regulated years ago??

My cable bill is about $35-$40 just for basic plus Discovery Channel. This chit has got to end.

I feel a revolution brewing. People are going to start marching within a few years. The shameful part is people still vote republican or democrat. The party ticket even...

Simple. People who don't or won't work for something shouldn't be given it anyway. The true poor people in this country are the regular working people... they have to constantly make choices on what they can afford.

As for the Rich, scrap all subsidies, social welfare programs and the entire tax code and replace it with a flat 10% tax. The working class would instantly be much better off and the Rich would pay a lot more.

Guess what, it will never happen. If someone was actually in the position to make this happen, and tried, they'd get "suicided" but quick.

Fee...hardly. Let's call a spade a spade. When the government takes money from the public under threats and coercion that's a tax.

The best part of all this is cities who grant the franchise charge their fees and then there are taxes on top of everything...so now, as before, you'll be paying taxes on the franchise tax on the USF TAX.

There will never be a tax on hot air.. The reason is obvious

If the FCC declares cable modems an "information service", then local gov'ts should not be able to collect franchise fees for the service. Lose the franchise fee, gain the USF .... it should be a wash.

Wishful thinking, huh?

The franchise fees are usually 5% of the cable companies revenues from "cable services", whereas the USF fees are running almost 7% of a providers revenues from interstate and international communications.

So the question is whether cable modem service classified as an "information service" goes into the interstate and international revenues pot. Looks like they want to change the USF to something like $1/month per connection - still better than 5% on a $40-$50 cable modem bill - but still unwelcome!

Yep, Adelphia is getting around a $100M in tax breaks to move part of its business here. That's corporate welfare, plain and simple. I'd be living in a $1M home if I got the same benefits, just for illustration.

Good point.

According to Econ 101, any money the Govt. takes, is a TAX.

(Whether they call it a fee, a surcharge, a license, or green silly putty.)

When will Uncle Sam stop raping us?

As if they FCC doesn't already steal enough money from us!

Its bad enough they take in TENS of BILLIONS, by auctioning the laws of physics (the spectrum), claiming it is theirs to sell!

If they could get away with it, they would charge you a tax to get into heaven!

"I will bet any amount of money that some time in the near future people will have an implanted device to measure the amount of air they breath. Then at years end you will be charged a tax on that air."

In addition to taxing air Congress will tax global warming.

They will exempt themselves from both laws despite being the biggest windbags and generators of hot air.

Companies don't pay. They pass the charges along to the consumer. If someone fines an ISP or other company that provides data services, the prices will go up. Whether or not the company can pay easily doesn't matter. In the end, the company will benefit by making more profit from each customer. Thanks again government for making our lives a bit more annoying.

Another productive comment from one of the overpaid DSG geeks. Forwarded to Bellsouth Ethics for review.