[Let's Roll]

All taxing "entities" - city, state, federal are taking cuts for various "reasons".

Services total c. $20 - taxes/fees are over $16.

IMO picking over exactly what it applies to and where it goes is what has allowed them to get away with this for so long. The bottom line is what matters to me.

[Vinnie]

And my favorite, the Al Gore Tax.
(enacted by Vice-Presidental decree.)

Something like 10% of your long distance bill to wire the schools to his internet.

[MineralMan]

Yeah, I'm a bottom line sorta guy myself. The phone bill comes in, and I pay the bottom line. I get to make calls and receive calls.

I have not examined a phone bill in a long time. I don't stress over $16...not ever.

There are important issues out there to work on. My phone bill and whatever taxes are levied on it are not among those issues.

But, go for it, if you wish.

[newgeezer]

If you're truly interested in what those taxes are and why they're there, here's a better link than the one I posted previously:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/charges.html

You see, nothing comes for free. If you're paying "80%" it's because some of the taxes are not assessed as a percentage of your bill but, rather, as a fixed fee. For example, the cost of making 911 service available to you is a fixed fee for everyone who has a phone (and IMO, that's how it should be).