FCC to Require Internet Telephony, VoIP Users to Pay Universal Service Fee

[mandy]

Federal regulators on Wednesday agreed to impose or increase universal service fees on wireless and Internet-based phone subscribers. The Federal Communications Commission changed the "safe harbor" percentage for wireless carriers from 28.5 percent to 37.1 percent. The FCC is also requiring Voice over Internet Protocol carriers to contribute to the Universal Service Fund a 10.9 percent fee on calling revenue. Those funds are earmarked to subsidize phone service in rural areas

"Universal service has been a hotly debated topic. The funding is not where it should be," IDC analyst Will Stofega told TechNewsWorld. "There are a lot of rural areas that are underserved. So is it really serving the purpose it's intended to serve? That's the question."...

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