Unfortunately
the subject of taxes as it applies to your telecom bills
is broad enough to warrant a lengthy discussion.
Let's
take a close look at the regulated and non-regulated charges
to your bills.
The
charges for local telecommunications services include
both regulated and non-regulated types. Taxes are assessed
on both. You can find most of these specific charges contained
in the "summary" section of your bill.
Regulated
Telecom Charges
Tariffs
are developed and filed by the Local Exchange Carrier
with the state and public utility commission. After approval,
these public documents define rules under which regulated
services will be provided, and the charges that will be
applied.
Once
approved, tariffs have the weight of law, and deviations
require special approvals by the utility commissions.
For detailed information on tariffs, visit CCMI.
(Center for Communications Management Information)
The following are services regulated by tariffs in most
states:
-
Connections
to the central office (CO) and any local
usage charges (excludes wireless)
-
Service
enhancements are usually regulated.
In several states, however, centrex-like
services are now unregulated and such
deregulation is becoming more common.
-
White-pages
directory services (except bold listings)
-
Operator
services provided by local exchange
companies
-
Service
initiation, changes, repair, and the
like are usually regulated. The expression
of such charges may be a "price
list" of specific items, or it
may be expressed as time and material
"rates" for categories of
work.
-
Some
standard kinds of studies are priced
through regulation. Detail of local
usage or message units are typical examples.
-
Most
"other" services
Non-Regulated Telecom Charges
Various
price schedules and rates are applied to non-regulated
offerings, in accordance with current business and competitive
conditions. Keep in mind that all non-regulated charges
are subject to rapid change and negotiation, although
some are traditionally fixed for a year at a time.
Prices
and rates for non-regulated items must be obtained from
suppliers. The following services are unregulated in most
states:
Terminal
and switching equipment, and ancillary items.
Pay telephones.
Some
service enhancements, such as wire maintenance and voice
mail boxes
Directory
advertising, bold listings, street directories
Sale
of "foreign" directories.
Many
kinds of studies and some technical service matters,
some corridor and other services.
Table of Contents
|
