Comcast yesterday announced plans to introduce by June their new digital telephone service in Portland. And at same time will introduce a combo broadband and unlimited local and long-distance phone plan for about $70 a month.
Anyone know if roll-out will happen in Eugene around same time? Wondering if the $70 "includes" most or all of the taxes/fees paid on monthly local Qwest phone bill, and taxes/fees (fixed and/or variable) currently paid for long distance, and if there will be any other "hidden" charges and fees. Anyone know if there is a website somewhere that delimits the Federal, State and local utility taxes/fees for our local region? On a related note Springfield voters will voting soon on repealing a new utility tax which includes a new 5% tax on long-distance and new 5% tax on cell phone service. (Local phone service thru Qwest, and apparently natural gas, is already taxed via franchise fees). But it is unclear how this utility tax, if not repealed, will change current franchise fee on Comcast cable TV customers and how it will apply to customers of Internet Service Providers, VOIP service providers and CLEC's. And how will it impact wireless broadband? Wondering why satellite TV and broadband, satellite radio and satellite phones are left off the list? And how does this apply to radio phone service (Silke Comm or Springfield Radio)? And what happens when WiMax spreads its wings? Notice the designers and deciders of this utility tax left SUB electric and water and Sanipac garbage off the list. And why no utility tax on bottled water delivery and newspaper delivery? Darren _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
