The FCC is stealing my money. I received this notice today from Verizon, my DSL and telephone carrier:

We'd like to inform you of an important charge that will affect your Verizon Online DSL bill. Starting June 1, 2004, Verizon Online will begin adding a monthly Supplier Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) Recovery fee on DSL Service. Verizon Online is assessed the FUSF fee by its suppliers (companies that provide the network services Verizon Online uses to bring you DSL service), which are required to contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund on revenues they receive for transporting Internet services over telephone lines. The fee will be no greater than the current quarterly rate set by the Federal Communications Commission to cover the FUSF fees Verizon Online pays to its suppliers. For the vast majority of our customers, the fee will be between $2.00-$3.00. Some customers with higher-grade DSL services, primarily business customers, will pay more depending on their type of service. While the price of your Verizon Online DSL Internet service itself will be the same, your bill will now include this new additional monthly charge.

What's the problem? Well, I'll tell you. I already pay this fee as part of my telephone service. Verizon's answer:

Wireline broadband Internet access services are classified by the Federal Communications Commission as "information services", with a telecommunications component, rather than telecommunications services. In other words, your DSL service is classified as separate from your telephone service. Both types of services are subject to FUSF fees, even though they run on the same “wire line” into your home.

So I'm paying the same fee twice for using one phone wire. This is highway robbery!

Of course, Bush will channel this additional tax as income to the wealthy, as part of their next round of tax cuts. You know, a spittoon has more value than the Bush Administration.