[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[Semper Paratus]

The Al Gore tax on telecoms and us to pay for internet wiring is still on the books.

[manwiththehands]

Falls under "unfunded mandates". That's the same as a tax increase.

[WorkerbeeCitizen]

I didn't realize the FCC had the power to tax.

[ARCADIA]

"The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to levy what likely will amount to wiretapping taxes on companies, municipalities and universities, saying it would create an incentive for them to keep costs down and that it was necessary to fight the war on terror. Universities have estimated their cost to be about $7 billion."

New Taxes direct from the GOP socialists in the Executive Office.

[ShadowAce]

[Echo Talon]

Broadband providers and Internet phone companies will have to pick up the tab for the cost of building in mandatory wiretap access for police surveillance, federal regulators ruled Wednesday.

And in the end we will be paying for it(and more) in the form of higher rates. Will the higher rates be reduced after the recoup their losses? yea right!

[crispy78]

So, we get to pay for the privilege of having the Feds spy on us? No thanks; I'm all for stopping terrorism, but this too much big brother for my tastes and having to pay more taxes is the icing on the cake of my opposition.

[antiRepublicrat]

Don't forget to use ZFone for your VOIP.

[KarlInOhio]

Will this have any effect on the temporary telephone tax we have to pay for defeating our Spanish enemy and freeing Cuba and the Philippines from their iron fist? Remember the Maine!

[cinives]

Haven't these people ever heard of sniffers ? You can get some for free, even.

[glorgau]

The article seems to have left out the usual "it's for the children" excuse for imposing a burden.

[familyop]

Next, they'll outlaw or "back-door" more strong encryption packages and vilify all who use them.

[MarkL]

commissioners dismissed those concerns as unfounded. "I am not persuaded merely by largely speculative allegations that the financial burden on the higher-education community could total billions of dollars," said FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican.

And we all know how accurate the government is at estimating costs over time... Like the cost of Social(ist) Security, Medicare, Medicade, and of course, the new Medicare Rx program...

Mark

[af_vet_rr]

"The first obligation is...the safety of the people," said FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat.

Why do comments like that worry me?