US FCC: Internet phones must pay into subsidy fund
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday voted to require Internet telephone services like Vonage Holdings Corp. to contribute to the universal service subsidy program. With Vonage’s IPO leaving their customers that bought the reserved shares at $17.25 hurting (currently $8.90) the FCC price hike is going to add salt to the wounds. I wonder how many customers will be leaving in the upcoming months.
The agency also decided to increase the amount wireless telephone providers would have to pay into the Universal Service Fund, which subsidizes phone service to rural and low-income households as well as communications services and Internet access for schools, hospitals and libraries. The move may lead to higher bills for wireless and Internet telephone customers because the companies typically pass the fees on to subscribers.
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