Phone fund comes under scrutiny:

AP ^ | May 12, 2003

[sarcasm]

EW YORK -- Considering all the extra charges on phone bills, the Universal Service tax might seem minor.

Its reach is big, however: It covers the high cost of making it possible for Americans to talk from mountains, swamps, and other remote areas. It subsidizes phone bills for poor people and technology at schools and libraries.

[ChefKeith]

Anybody remember which one of the "fees" on our phone bills is the one that is suppossed to pay for the War of 1812 ?

I can't see why it takes that long to pay off that war.

[ikka]

Just wait till WiFi and VOIP hit. When you can use WiFi to connect to the Internet, then make a (USF tax free) phone call over it, the question becomes why bother paying $16-25 per month for a landline?

[JoeSixPack1]

This is the ALGORE tax, yes/no ??

[GailA]

Let's see there is the

Federal Universal Service Charge $0.55
Federal End User Charge $6.00
911 $0.25
Interstate Sales Tax $0.30
Intrastate Tax $0.37
Federal Tax $0.64
State Tax $2.88
Shelby County Tax $0.15

Total taxes $11.14

My total phone bill was $45.74...$13.15 basic bill, $1.50 touch tone feature, $19.95 internet service.

The taxes on my basic phone service are NEARLY as much as my basic phone bill! BTW the $6.00 is the GORE TAX

[JoeSixPack1]

OUCH! Thanks :-)

I'm usually to scared to look at my phone bill unless it's a scarey amount.

[tdadams]

why bother paying $16-25 per month for a landline?

I answered that question myself about 6 months ago. No more Bellsouth. No regrets.