FCC Warns Verzion and BellSouth on DSL USF

It seems some of the folks at the FCC have caught wind of plans by Verizon and BellSouth to continue charging consumers, in effect, the USF surcharge on DSL lines, but calling the charge a "regulatory recovery fee" and pocketing the money.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the carriers should check the mail for a letter of inquriry asking for "documentation about how the surcharges are consistent with federal Truth-in-Billing laws as well as how the underlying costs of providing high-speed Internet services are supported by the surcharges. Additionally, the FCC wants information on why the companies are imposing the surcharges on all Internet customers, both those who buy bundled packages and those who subscribe only to high-speed Internet."

Its nice to see the FCC taking pro-active, pro-consumer enforcment role and we hope its a trend.