Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

["Alan MacHett" <machett AT ibiblio.org>]

Bend over and take it till you bleed.  We're BellMafia and we can do
whatever the $%#* we want!

I just got this lovely letter from BS.  I am primarily concerned with the
first part of the letter.  Although we're talking about less than $3 per
month, I was skeptical.  My analysis of it follows the letter:

/BEGIN/
Dear BellSouth FastAccess Customer:

We hope you are enjoying your FastAccess Service.  It is our pleasure to
provide your high-speed Internet service, and we thank you for
subscribing.

We are writing to inform you that BellSouth will begin charging a
regulatory cost recovery fee of $2.97 per month for your FastAccess
Service.  This fee is intended to offset the cost BellSouth incurs in
complying with regulatory obligations and includes the recovery of the
Federal Universal Service Charge.  This regulatory cost recovery fee is
not a tax or a charge imposed by a government entity.  Please be aware
that this new line item will appear on your monthly FastAccess bill
effective March 26, 2004.

In addition, if you signed up for BellSouth FastAccess Service between
9/1/03 and 3/26/04, you may be receiving special pricing based on where
you reside.  BellSouth will discontinue this special pricing effective
March 26, 2004.  You will continue to keep your current pricing after this
date; however, changed to your FastAccess service plan after March 26 may
result in the loss of special geographical pricing.

BellSouth is committed to helping you maximize your Internet experience. 
It is our goal to provide you with a quality product as well as the best
possible customer service.  Than you again for choosing BellSouth
FastAccess Internet Service.
/END/

[1] In the second paragraph they contradict themselves by saying it's a
cost incurred by complying with regulatory obligations, yet it's not
"imposed by a government entity".

[2] I did some online searching and finally called the Federal
Communications Commission’s Consumer Information Bureau, at
1-888-225-5322.  I had to listen to a lengthy, but informative, spiel
about the Universal Service Fund, but ...
http://bellsouth.broaddaylight.com/bellsouth/FAQ_41_389.shtm
http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/universal_service/welcome.html
http://ftp.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/usfincrease.html

[3] ...she had some interesting comments on my query:
    [a] $2.97 seemed high to her, and
    [b] when I mentioned it being applied to my DSL bill, she said that
was the first time she'd ever heard of that.

Of course, I'm going to call or write BellShaft to contest this crap. 
They can just kiss my ass.

-Alan