The universal service obligation cost

[Jan Whitaker]

If you look at the list, there is no mention of exactly here much of that
money is going other than the 911 service.  My guess is is that like the
medicare levi here, most of it is going into a general fund, but that the
calculation of the portion of the bill is from some economic model.  I may
be wrong on that.

Actually, I would like to know that the money I'm paying for fuel taxes
are going to roads and the medicare levy is going to medicare.  Right now
there isn't much to control that money not going to a pet project of a
current government.  I think there could be a great deal more
accountability.  Otherwise you don't know if the charge is too much or too
little.  So the tax can keep rising. :(

On Thu, 15 Oct 1998 richard@auscoms.com.au wrote:

|=
|=Dan Tebbut wrote:
|=>in terms of consumer information, i really like the way phone bills work >in
|=the US. a bill fram Pacific Bell or any other RBOC will state on the >front
|="Taxes and charges: $17.23" and on the final page you will have >something like
|=this (figures are made up not indicative):
|=>
|=>   City tax:   $2.45
|=>   State tax:  $12.10
|=>   Federal tax:    $1.15
|=>   FCC USO fund:   $0.90
|=>   California high cost of communications charge:  $0.07
|=>   Public utilities commission levy:   $0.08
|=>   911 service:    $0.12
|=>   Rural telecommunications levy:  $0.36
|=>A breakdown of where the money goes makes you feel better than no
|=>explanation at all. And you can see who's taxing you the most!
|=>Dan
|=
|=In other words, every tax should be levied for a specific purpose, limited to
|=the segment of the economy from which it is raised. Or in other words, user-pays
|=for everything. Not sure I want to give up some of the more important but less
|=specific social services -- like healthcare or social security etc just so I can
|=feel good...
|=
|=Richard Chirgwin
|=
|=

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates     \--------/ - jwhit@primenet.com
Edu/Comm Technology Consultant ---/ - Video and Internet Specialities
Melbourne, VIC, Australia   \----/ - http://www.primenet.com/~jwhit/
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