[ad_1]
AT&T desires the seven greatest and most worthwhile tech firms, particularly Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla, to assist subsidize Web and phone entry within the U.S.
AT&T CEO John Stankey stated on Monday at a telecoms discussion board that large tech firms must be required to contribute to the Common Service Fund (USF), a federal program that spends $8 billion a yr on cellphone, Web, and different telecommunications providers.
The fund helps lower-income prospects, prospects who dwell in rural areas, or those that reside in high-cost areas. It additionally brings web and cellphone service to eligible faculties and libraries.
“The seven largest and most worthwhile firms on the earth constructed their franchises on the web and the infrastructure we offer,” Stankey stated, per a Reuters report.
“Why should not they take part in making certain inexpensive and equitable entry to the providers of at present which can be simply as indispensable because the cellphone traces of yesteryear?” he added.
John Stankey, AT&T CEO. Credit score: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures
As a telecommunications firm working within the U.S., AT&T is required to contribute to the USF.
The fund takes a proportion of AT&T’s revenues, beginning at 15.5%.
AT&T expenses its prospects a Common Connectivity Cost primarily based on the USF proportion — so on the finish of the day, AT&T’s prospects pay a further value that goes in the direction of the fund.
“Within the aggressive business we’re in, we can not afford to soak up the prices related to the USF which have been imposed on AT&T,” an organization webpage reads.
Associated: AT&T CEO Reveals Explanation for Mass Outage, Affords Account Credit score
Stankey is not the one AT&T govt to not too long ago name consideration to the USF charge. Earlier this month, AT&T govt vice chairman of federal regulatory relations Rhonda Johnson wrote that the corporate’s USF contribution proportion was now 34.4% — and had remained at above 30% for the previous 4 quarters.
Johnson wrote that Congress ought to develop the USF’s sources of funding to “tech firms – like Meta and Google – that make the most of shopper broadband connections.”
These large tech firms have profited from having People on-line and must also contribute to a reformed fund, in line with Johnson.
Associated: AT&T Buyer Information Leaked to ‘Darkish Net,’ Thousands and thousands Affected
[ad_2]
Supply hyperlink
