Does anyone actually believe Verizon here?

[zzyzzx]

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8JL2LK80.htm?sub=apn_tech_down&chan=tc

Verizon imposes new DSL surcharge

AUG. 21 5:51 P.M. ET Verizon Communications Inc. is imposing a new surcharge on high-speed Internet service just as customers were set to receive lower bills thanks to a decision last year to deregulate the service.

In a recent notice to customers, the telecommunications company said it would begin imposing the surcharge for all new digital-subscriber line customers, and on current DSL customers with monthly plans. Customers on an annual plan will start paying when their plan expires.

The surcharge will initially be $1.20 a month for customers with service up to 768 kilobits per second and $2.70 per month for customers with faster DSL service, according to the company.

The fee comes as a government fee on DSL customers for the Universal Service Fund is being phased out. For customers with service up to 768 kpbs, the fee was $1.25 a month, and for customers with service of up to 3 Mbps, the fee was $2.83 a month, according to Verizon. Customers will no longer pay such charges effective Aug. 14, New York-based Verizon said.
Bobby Henson, a Verizon spokeswoman, cited "new costs that we've developed over the past year as we've been developing and delivering this standalone DSL service. That service doesn't have the benefit of the revenue that was coming in from voice."

Verizon was among the companies that had pushed for the Federal Communications Commission to deregulate DSL service, which the commission did in August 2005. Under the ruling, DSL was considered to be an information service. Information services are generally exempt from universal service payments that are included in telephone bills. The FCC, however, mandated that DSL providers continue to contribute to universal service for 270 days in order to give the agency time to develop broad reform of the system.

Henson said the decision to impose the new surcharge now "is not related at all to USF." She said she "would strongly disagree" with criticisms that Verizon was in effect diverting to its own coffers money that had previously supported the Universal Service Fund.

Yeah, right.

[lordsmurf]

Liars.

[pantsonfire]

I hate surcharges. I don't understand how they can charge us so much.

[Conquest10]

Just as I've always said about the phone companies. They got their way and are now making the customer pay.

On a related note, I see it didn't take long for AT&T to begin the bashing commercials. They're running ads bashing Comcast's digital phone service (quite ironic since they also provide the same type of service). One of the things said is that when the power goes out, so does your phone service (which, to my understanding, is a complete lie). Losers.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

I manage the DSL connection for my in-laws, they have verizon and I received the e-mail notifying me about this.

They are so full of sh1te!!!

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Yep, here it is!!!

Dear Valued Verizon Online Customer,

Effective August 14, 2006, Verizon Online will stop charging the FUSF (Federal
Universal Service Fund) recovery fee. We will stop being assessed the fee by our
DSL network suppliers. Therefore, we will no longer be recovering this fee from
our customers. The impact of the FUSF fee is as follows: for customers of
Verizon Online with service up to 768Kbps, the fee eliminated is $1.25 a month;
for customers of Verizon Online with service up to 1.5 Mbps or 3Mbps, the fee
eliminated is $2.83 a month (based on current FUSF surcharge amounts). On your
bill that includes charges for August 14, 2006 you will see either a partial
FUSF Recovery Fee or no FUSF line item at all, depending on your bill cycle.

Starting August 26, 2006, Verizon Online will begin charging a Supplier
Surcharge for all new DSL customers, existing customers with a DSL monthly or
bundle package, and existing DSL annual plan customers at the time their current
annual plan expires. This surcharge is not a government imposed fee or a tax;
however, it is intended to help offset costs we incur from our network supplier
in providing Verizon Online DSL service. The Supplier Surcharge WILL INITIALLY
be set at $1.20 a month for Verizon Online DSL customers with service up to
768Kbps and $2.70 per month for customers with DSL service at higher speeds.

On balance your total bill will remain about the same as it has been or slightly
lower.
For more information, see the Announcement in the Help section of Verizon
Central, located at http://central.verizon.net

We regret the need to add this Supplier Surcharge, but we thank you for choosing
high speed Verizon Online DSL. We appreciate and value your business.

Sincerely,


Verizon Online
Broadband Customer Care Team

So full of it that it's coming out from their ears!

Do you notice how they say "will initially"?... those sob's are already planning about raising it!!!

[thecoalman]

Most people won't be aware of the changes and never know the money got shifted from the government to Verizon. Effectively raising the rates without the customers knowledge.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

In fact, they might say: "Hey!, Verizon just reduced my bill $0.50... oh my, such a good fellas. What a nice company!"


Verizon

[zzyzzx]

I would have made this a poll, but I assumeed that everyone would have voted [NO or TGPO anyway.