Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Cable Modem Tax Proposed by FCC

Posted by simoniker on from the more-tax-whacks dept.

TheSync writes "News.Com has an article by Declan McCullagh that says the FCC is considering a new tax of up to 9.1% on the revenue of cable modem providers. This is an expansion of the existing universal service fund, which currently does not apply to cable services. The USF could even be expanded to wireless IP and VOIP providers as well, expanding the fund to over $13 billion."

1 of 625 comments (clear)

  1. Universal Service Fund by frieked · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, I can't really say that this surprises me and as much as it may suck that my cable bill would go up, at least the money is going to some somewhat good causes:

    About 85 percent of the fund's revenues are split between two causes: the "e-rate" program (40 percent), which subsidizes school and library Internet connections, and rural telephone companies (45 percent), which might otherwise end up paying more for telephone service than city dwellers. The remaining 15 percent goes toward discounts to low-income subscribers and funds rural health care.

    --

    I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.
    -Xenocrates