Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!olivea!bu.edu!telecom-request From: dave@westmark.westmark.com (Dave Levenson) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Telephone Surcharges for Deaf, Poor Anger IBT Customers Message-ID: Date: 8 Mar 91 00:06:16 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA Lines: 18 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 186, Message 10 of 14 It seems that when the US Government applies a federal exise tax on what they consider to be a luxury, they tax telephone service. When Illinois decides who should subsidize whom, telephone service is essential. The point made by the IBT customers, I think, is that if it is proper for low-income citizens to be subsidized by other citizens, why make the telephone company the conduit for this? It wouldn't be that the state of Illinois thinks an additional state tax might be politically unpopular, now, would it? Dave Levenson Internet: dave@westmark.com Westmark, Inc. UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave Warren, NJ, USA AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave Voice: 908 647 0900 Fax: 908 647 6857