USF Fees - Vitelity
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kieranmullen @ 4th Nov 03:37PM:
USF Fees - Vitelity

What is the actual percentage rate like F9 charges for USF?

»www.usac.org/fund-administration···tribute/

Is not 6.3 of $75 8.5% not the 7.41% they mentioned in the post?

Also this should be based on actual fees for service not administrative fees. The manner in which Vitelity calculates fees (based on any money deposited) would effective tax money used for porting fees and other services which are not taxable under USF (non terminating services (2) Requires a broadband connection from the user’s location )ie vfax services calls forwarded to a cell etc.

11-01-2009 Credit $75 2011z62608z8674 Credit Card Payment
11-01-2009 Debit $6.3 USF2011z62608z8674 USF Fees 11-09

As required by law, in the next thirty days we will be contributing the Universal Service Fund. Once started, pass-through charges of 7.41% will be reflected on your billing statement. You may claim exemption from USF fees if you are a reseller of telecommunications service and bill fees to your customers directly. A notice will be sent out prior to implementation with complete details. For any questions or requests regarding USF, please email usf@vitelity.com.
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com

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neftv @ 4th Nov 04:38PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

Thanks for that link.....Wow I never knew the form the Voip providers have to fill out is 9 pages and they put up with it. It's a bad rule for VOIP because its over internet, I don't care that the call terminates or originates from PSTN.

More so how loosy goosy the following is stated in the web site.
"All calculations are based on Federal Communications Commission-established methodology and contribution factors."

And I love this part

Consumers may notice a "Universal Service" line item on their telephone bills. This occurs when a provider chooses to recover its contributions directly from its customers through a line-item charge on its bills. The FCC does not require this. Each company makes a business decision about whether to directly assess its customers to recover its Universal Service Fund costs.
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kieranmullen @ 4th Nov 04:42PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

Well basically a monthly charge for taxes or roll it up in some other fee I would imagine. Interesting viatalk is in the fcc website from may...

»www.fcc.gov/wcb/tapd/universal_service/
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com

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kieranmullen @ 5th Nov 12:49PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

So I guess F9 pays no USF fee? Doesn't sound legal.
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com

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VTBrendan @ 5th Nov 12:57PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

There are lots of companies that do not contribute. When the FCC catches on, they bill in arrears whether you were collecting the fees or not, plus penalties.

-Brendan
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PX Eliezer @ 5th Nov 01:04PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

The preceding two posts, taken in sequence, sound like an accusation.

------------------------------------------

Companies have the option of pasing the USF on to their customers, or just paying it like they pay their electric bill and their employees' salaries.

The latter approach had the advantage for customers of not being an unexpected or hidden "add-on".
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dcurrey @ 5th Nov 01:05PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

It wouldn't be the first time F9 has ignored FCC rules.
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kieranmullen @ 5th Nov 01:17PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

Well vitelity does but they charge a higher rate than they stated and they charge it on everything.

I am not sure if voicepulse.com does it on the residential side but they dont do it on the business side, but the business fee may include it.

VT does the bizarre practice if charging yearly for a service then charges a monthly fee for taxes when they could also charge it yearly and it would cost a bit less to do so. (transaction fees etc)

Why VT doesn't do this has not been properly explained? Brendan?
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com

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VTBrendan @ 5th Nov 01:25PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

the USF charges, along with others, change on a monthly or quarterly basis.

-Brendan
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neftv @ 5th Nov 02:05PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

It's just a bad rule for Voip especially.
Not to single out any companies but my thought is why these Fees which only has something to do between the FCC and the communications companies do I have to pay for it as a customer? This is like me going the grocery store every week and charging each family member a $2 fee every month for me going to the store . I mean how do you do that mentally and expect a customer to be a happy camper.
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RockyBB @ 5th Nov 02:18PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

said by kieranmullen :

So I guess F9 pays no USF fee? Doesn't sound legal.
Must be very careful with accusations and drawing conclusions with self generated thoughts. Here are some strategies that could be in play for any provider ...
--pay USF on wholesale cost of minutes
--register with FCC and not owe at least $10,000 per year in USF charges (allowed exemption for small providers)
--register with FCC and pay USF out of general funds
--register with FCC and pay USF from specific end user recaptures

what is not legal, and will get a carrier in trouble, is to tell their wholesale provider that carrier will pay USF directly and thus exempt from having to pay it on wholesale bill, and then not registering with FCC and accounting for the traffic. The way I understand the system, the wholesale provider is required to confirm the FCC registration that is claimed, prior to exempting the traffic ... which ultimately makes the wholesale provider legally complicit if the VOIP carrier does not make its disclosures and accounting of traffic.

If a carrier is paying USF to their wholesale provider, and not specifically recapturing it from end-users, I don't think there would be a violation.
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nitzan @ 5th Nov 03:49PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

said by kieranmullen :

So I guess F9 pays no USF fee? Doesn't sound legal.
Not charging USF fees doesn't mean we don't pay them. We just "eat" the cost.

Either way- we still fall under De Minimis anyway.
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kieranmullen @ 5th Nov 03:55PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

rocky nitzan

Thanks for the long post, but I already understand roll up vs pass thru of fees. See re read previous comment on voicepulse.
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kieranmullen @ 5th Nov 03:57PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

To save me googling on pda...(does anyone own them anymore but me?) what is De Minimis ?
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RockyBB @ 5th Nov 04:01PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

said by kieranmullen :

To save me googling on pda...(does anyone own them anymore but me?) what is De Minimis ?
said by RockyBB :

--register with FCC and not owe at least $10,000 per year in USF charges (allowed exemption for small providers).
I thought you just said you knew all this?
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neftv @ 5th Nov 04:08PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

The company income it to small so in a way thay don't have to submit the fees. I think. It does not make sense for the FCC to come after them since they are small potatoes in fees.
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kieranmullen @ 5th Nov 04:14PM:
Re: USF Fees - Vitelity

ok the first half... after that I missed or accidentally ignored it since I was on the pda as mentioned previously.
thanks
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com

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