Ray From Cleveland
Diamond Member
- Aug 16, 2015
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Let's get a few things straight. First of all, what is being provided is phone and message service. The funds to provide the service does not come from the federal goverment but from the Universal Service Fund which is funded by a tax on cell phone usage and contributions by cell phone companies. This fund is managed independently from the US government. The dollars proved are those needed to provide a fixed number minutes of cell phone usage and message service. Cell providers may add a teaser of .25 to .5 GB of data usage a month but that is not paid for by the service fund.
Correct. Now can you explain the difference between that and a tax? Where do you think the cell phone companies get that money from? That's right, paying cell phone customers like myself. Given the fact most people have a cell phone today, it's a tax on everybody rich, poor or anything in between. It's actually a hidden tax many don't even know about. Plus I'm sure it's a tax write-off for the cell phone companies.
For your information, schools today require a parent to provide a phone number that they can be reached any time in case of an emergency or an issue involving their child. No, giving a number of a friend or neighbor is not what they are looking for. Employers not only expect a potential employee to provide a number but they but they expect all employees to provide such a number. Lastly, new HUD housing requires that a tenant have a phone to report fires and other emergencies as well as providing contact information. Having phone communications today is not just a convenience, but a necessity.
All of which can be done with a cheaper phone like a landline. I provided my mother with a cell phone for when she has no access to a landline. She never uses it. When I get the bill at the end of the month, it shows how much time and data each phone used. My mothers phone? None usually.
Why is that? Because my mother doesn't like to use the phone for one even though I have an unlimited plan for both of us, and two, mostly because my mother doesn't work or go many places because she doesn't drive. When somebody takes her somewhere, they always have a phone so she never needs hers.
People can get along fine with just a landline. WTF did we do when we didn't have cell phones years ago? I know people that still don't have one even though they could easily afford it.