Time to move back to cable -- Verizon to add DSL fees

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
X-Comment: AT&T Maillennium special handling code - c
X-Sender:  (Unverified)
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 07:56:21 -0400
To: undisclosed-recipient:;
From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Subject: Verizon to add DSL fees

Verizon to add DSL fees

By Jim Hu
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Story last modified April 13, 2004, 1:36 PM PDT

Verizon Communications on Tuesday said it will begin charging its
broadband subscribers an additional $2 to $3 monthly "regulatory
fee," joining a trend embraced by other local phone giants.

The charges will begin appearing on Verizon digital subscriber line
(DSL) bills in May or June, depending where a customer lives. Verizon
charges $34.95 a month for DSL, or $29.95 a month when purchased with
long distance and local phone service.

Verizon joins other Baby Bells, including SBC Communications and
BellSouth, which have begun introducing additional regulatory charges
to customer DSL bills. These fees are part of a regulation requiring
phone companies to contribute to a federal Universal Service Fund
(USF) that underwrites phone service costs in low-income or rural
areas. While the Bells charge USF fees for all phone and DSL
services, they claim they have up to now absorbed all DSL charges.

Verizon said the decision to add regulatory fees was based on a
number of factors, including the growing expense in running a DSL
service. But like its Bell cousins, Verizon also blamed the Federal
Communications Commission for regulations that favor its cable
competitors, who are not required to contribute to the USF.

...

http://news.com.com/2100-1034-5190830.html

-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com
To manage your subscription, go to
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/