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Phone Companies Bill Public for Nonexistent Equipment
Srinivasan Ramakrishnan writes "Forbes has an eye-opening article on the scam that lets the Bells scoop $5 billion every year from the consumer with the sanction of the FCC. The FCC Line charge that appears on every phone bill is a vestige of a deal that was struck by the FCC with the Bells. The deal was touted by the FCC as a historic win that saved $3.2 Billion a year for the consumer - Forbes takes a closer look at the deal."
If a non-existant phone rings when you're in the woods do you get billed for it?
Sorry, but my karma just ran over your dogma.
0 line printers - $25,000
1 phone switch - $133,000
The same phone switch on newegg - $4
Succeeding to sweep a damning audit of your shady accounting under the rug: Priceless
There are some things money can't buy. You use back-office deals with the FCC for that.
Fuck Beta. Fuck Dice
(Is this joke dead yet?)
1: Monopoly broken up by government.
2: Local companies and national carriers hold secret meetings with government regulators, decide how to screw customer over.
3: ???
4: Profit!!
Not representing or approved by my company or anybody else.
Get out of the Matrix.
"I only speak the truth"
Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
I, too, hail from Minnesota, and it sounds like a good idea. I could still drive in the old lanes free and I wouldn't be forced to pay for the new ones. If I thought the price was right I'd pay. If not, I would still have the basic service, just not as fast. Plus, soon I'll have a permit to pack heat and I'll be all set!
Arthur
...said it best.
~Philly
BUT, if I cut my land line, how would I get in and out of the Matrix!
Neck_of_the_Woods
#/usr/local/surf/glassy/overhead
Even though I agree with your sentiment, using the post office as a model of efficiency just may get you into trouble someday...
If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
Yes you get billed for it.
Actualy a bear picks up the phone and answers the calls, watches the TV, and reads/posts to slashdot.
Who did you think Timothy was?
You say its not true, but if you asked the Bells then they would show you the Disney channell and point out The Bear in the Big Blue house program as evidence this realy takes place.
The only thing you do not get from this scenario is charged for water/sewage. And not it is not because Bears do not know how to use the toilet, or water, but rather the issue of justifying how the City got the water/sewage lines up on that big rocky mountain.
Gotta be Bill Gates for them to be able to get that kind of money from one guy.
/. cred? ;)
What the fuck, man? You trying to ruin my
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, you're right." -
One-way cable modem is analogous to one-way satellite -- they both use dialup modems as the upstream channel.
Hi Clambake, John here from your phone company. Just wanted to mention that you'll be charged a fee for reproducing this story on your next bill.
Regards
How in blazes could anybody show you a better postal service?
There's this thing called other countries, see, and they send letters too.
"We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
I have received No Such Address post cards here in the US. I was told I had a package waiting at the PO. Miffed that they didnt leave it with the office attendants (apartment building) as they 99% of the time do, I go to the PO and they tell me it wasnt delivered because my address doesnt exist. No amount of logic would convince them otherwise.
Uhm hello, they gave me a post card IN MY MAILBOX.
Nope, at least not in Austin, Texas.
I don't do it very often but I've never had any problem with Papa John's or Mr. Gattis delivering to me.
I'm one of those guys without a land line -- I have just a cell phone.
I don't advertise that fact, but then I don't tell them I'm fat, either.
--Richard