[Sarge]

I am ticked off beyond belief. I would like everyone to read this because chances are this applies to you if you have unlimited long distance telephone service.
I currently recieved my invoice from my telephone company and on the invoice I noticed a $50 (fifty dollar) charge. I immediately thought it to be a mistake because I have unlimited local and unlimited long distance service. Which means that I can talk on the telephone for an unlimited amount of time in the continental United States to include Puerto Rico and Guam for a flat rate, currently $52 (fifty-two dollars) and not be charged extra. I called my telephone company and I was told that the FCC has mandated a federal surcharge of $50 (fifty dollars) to all resedential phone lines that exceed 5000 minutes because the FCC believes anyone who is on the phone for over 5000 minutes is no longer "resedential" and is now "commercial" or "business". This is not just my phone company doing it....it is a Federal Mandate. All phone Companies will charge you $50 if you exceed that limit. Mind you 5000 minutes are a lot of minutes but If Im paying for unlimited service thats what I should get..unlimited service.
I dont know about you but I am extremely angry. I have (or so I thought I had) unlimited phone service. This is not unlimited it is limited to 5000 minutes. Why did this mandate come into effect? Does anyone else know anything about this?

[angelize56]

That sure stinks! It's none of their business how long you talk on the phone..and they should have to prove you have a business! Gee! Nosy people! I can see why you're Sarge!! Refute the charge!!

[MSM Hobbes]

Do you have or did the phone company provide you with a FCC act, law, or regulation number or such to help find where/when this came from? You say it is a Fed Mandate - is this based only on what the phone company is telling you? I did a quick search w/ a few various key words, and have not found anything as of yet...

[Sarge]

My telephone company is giving me a one-time refund but let me remind you this is a Federal Mandate by the FCC. Anyone who talks over 5000 minutes on their home phone will be charged regardless if you think you have unlimited service or not.

[angelize56]

I'll just stick with my little ol' 4.5 cents/min. OPEX Long Distance!

Glad you got the refund Sarge!! I still don't think you should now have to keep track somehow of how many minutes you talk on the phone a month!

[Wet Chicken]

Originally Posted by Sarge

Why did this mandate come into effect? Does anyone else know anything about this?

I can give you a clue Guess who runs the FCC? His daddy's last name is Powel One big happy family destroying America and running things the way THEY want to

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by MSM Hobbes

Do you have or did the phone company provide you with a FCC act, law, or regulation number or such to help find where/when this came from?

Im looking as well.

Originally Posted by MSM Hobbes

You say it is a Fed Mandate - is this based only on what the phone company is telling you? I did a quick search w/ a few various key words, and have not found anything as of yet...

Ive searched as well but couldnt find anything. What I also did was call various phone companies like BellSouth, ATT and MCI and they in fact did acknowledge the mandate.

[LANMaster]

Get your facts straight, moist poultry.

Read the Senate bill (signed into law by your hero, Slick Willie)
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start...hop.pdf&e=7370

[Wet Chicken]

Are you sure you sent the right link

[Tipacanoe]

Isn't this just a case of your not reading your contract with your phone company, Sarge? Obviously, no business is going to sell you "unlimited" anything literally. Especially not in the US of A.

[LANMaster]

Originally Posted by Wet Chicken

Are you sure you sent the right link

Hmmmmmm .... Link not working anymore.
I remember the bill, though, when it went through Congress. It was another one of Clinton's many backdoor tax increases.

[linskyjack]

The FCC has become a rubber stamping agency supporting the media and telecommunication conglomerates under Bush. I just switched my voice account from Verizon to Cablevison. Works pretty good and is much cheaper.

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by Tipacanoe

Isn't this just a case of your not reading your contract with your phone company, Sarge? Obviously, no business is going to sell you "unlimited" anything literally. Especially not in the US of A.

This is a Federal thing not a phone company thing. And yes it used to be unlimited...totally unlimited until the FCC stepped in. I recently was told because of dial-up internet your computer has to get on line thru telephone service and if it connects with a long distance number instead of local and then lets say you download music or a movie all night you could be using that phone line for hours and hours.