Ever since 2006, the FCC has made what it calls *”Nomadic VoIP Carriers”, pay the FCC state to state Universal Service Fund fees. The FCC set an assumed state to state usage rate of 64.9%, which meant that if a internet phone service providers charged their customer $20.00 for monthly service, they would have to pay the feds the USF fee on an assumed state to state usage of $12.98. Over the last few years, the states have been trying to get those same nomadic VoIP companies to pay into their individual USF accounts based on the assumed instate usage of 35.1%, but the VoIP companies have been fighting them in court. But, as of November 5, 2010, the FCC is now allowing the states to collect that money going forward.

*Companies like Vonage are considered “Nomadic” because their customers could be anywhere, unlike regular landline customers.

Tags

Technology and Gadgets