Comments on: 911 & City-utility surcharge on a data-only EVDO card?

By: JC

JC — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:56:32 +0000

To make my point clear. I state that EVDO customers should be charged with the 911 taxes for the reason I stated in my previous comment.

When a person is missing, the EVDO card is an alternate to a CDMA cell phone for tracking.

By: JC

JC — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:50:04 +0000

I agree with jdoc.

If a person, who uses a mini-laptop with the EVDO, goes missing, the police will ask the 911 PSAP authority to help triangulate the laptop’s location. The PSAP technician will contact Sprint’s cell tower operators to locate the laptop. From the 911’s technician’s point of view, the EVDO is no different from a CDMA phone that has GPS turned off.

By: Gary Moulton

Gary Moulton — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:44:01 +0000

I had a Sprint PC Broadband account and was never charged anything other than the starndard monthly fee. I switched to Verizon and now use their USB card to get on the Internet and they are charging federal, and city fees.

Ironic when I called them they said they charge that on all mobile phone numbers. I said then give me a non-mobile number. No reply.

I intend to argue with Verizon as you do not have to pay phone usage fees and taxes for an ISP. Be it cable or Dial Up or DSL.

I think they are wrong and Sprint is obvious inconsistent. Verizon I will have to try to pin them down.

Gary

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 01:23:06 +0000

An explanation of the Utility Users Surcharge is at the following web address along with some history.

http://www.nasuca.org/newsroom/federal_communications_commissio.php

From what I have read, it might be time to “refresh” the people on the committee involved. One could almost believe there’s something else going on below the surface based on the previous corrective actions taken.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:35:19 +0000

Thanks for the thorough explanation Chance. Somewhat of an update to the original post, but a representative from Sprint’s tax department did get in contact with me about this issue. I was actually credited for 911 taxes incurred during each prior month. Not having any real use for an EVDO modem now, I requested to close my account (expecting to stomach the ETF). Fortunately, Sprint waived the $200 fee – only requesting that I pay the current month over the phone.

By: Chance

Chance — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:29:34 +0000

I have 15 years experience in state and local taxes. I can’t explain nor excuse the poor customer service in trying to understand your taxes/fees. However, living in the great state of Washington, you should know that your government is “grandfathered” and can and does continue to impose all it taxes and fees on data and internet access. The Seattle Utility Users fee is the gross receipts tax the imposes on ALL revenue. The 911 fees are debatable, however, many times the governments gives little or no guidance on how to apply their anitquated tax laws to new services and technologies. The states and cities are particularly horrible in their administration of telecom taxes. You live in one of the highest telecom taxing states in the country. And if a telecom carrier doesn’t tax something the way the govt auditor likes – the carrier ends up getting hammered with assessments. You should really be pissed off at your own government. Hope you have great roads and infrastructure there – you are paying a mighty big sum for it.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:37:28 +0000

I noticed that on this month’s bill those excess charges that you mention are gone. I tried to call Sprint today to have them remove the charges from last month’s bill (the only one that has had them) and I got a recording that they could not take my call at this time, please call back later. Great customer service, huh? So I called AMEX and disputed the $3.64 overcharge. It’ll cost Spring $50 just to answer the dispute — even if I end up paying the $3.64 (and I agree, it should not have been levied), I’ll have some satisfaction.

By: 911 and City-Utility Surcharge On A Data-Only EVDO Card « EMONOME

911 and City-Utility Surcharge On A Data-Only EVDO Card « EMONOME — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 14:24:53 +0000

[...] 911 and City-Utility Surcharge On A Data-Only EVDO Card 13 06 2007 Derek Punsalan noticed this on his monthly bill. [...]

By: Zacharias

Zacharias — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 04:09:48 +0000

They’re required to pay based on subscribers. They’re not required to charge you for that. They could just as easily call it “the cost of doing business,” but instead, you get yet another (passed along) cellphone misc charge.

By: AlbanyWiFi.com » Blog Archive » 911 & City-utility surcharge on a data-only EVDO card?

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:18:13 +0000

[...] Link here. [...]