[comp.dcom.telecom] Divestiture, Business, and the General Public

tanner@ki4pv.uucp (Dr. T. Andrews) (07/22/89)

In an earlier article, larg@salt.acc.com writes...
) (1) More readable phone bills. All mandatory charges, taxes etc
) included in the basic monthly price of service, and all optional
) components identified on separate line items.

Sorry, I can't go along with this at all.  It's a sore point around
here, because there are indeed many county taxes added to the phone
bill.  Besides the 10% inequity tax, there is a charge of so much a
month for "911" service, which charge is particularly galling for
the modem lines; these modems can't usefully dial 911, but my
employer is paying every month for their privilege to do so!

By hiding the taxes, you make it easier for them to be raised without
comment from the public.  No, I say, a thousand times no!  If they're
going to tax me, I at least want it broken out honestly so that I
know who gets the hate mail.