American Telecom Mess

Government Fees and Taxes

1. California State Telecomm. Relay Svc Surcharge
2. California State Universal Service Fund
3. California State Excise Tax Surcharge
4. California State 911
5. California State High Cost Fund Surcharge
6. California State Deaf Tax Surcharge

Surcharges & Fees

1. Federal Wireless Number Pooling And Portability
2. Federal Usf Non-Ld Surcharge
3. California State P.U.C. Fee
4. Federal E911

Above is list of taxes and surcharges that is part of your cell phone bill.For the first time, When I saw this list ,I was surprised to see so many taxes and surcharges.What's the need of so many taxes? Couldn't the Government collect some kind of single tax which can replace all the other taxes and fees? Single Tax/surcharge is easier to manage both by payer and payee.Some of the taxes are obvious but some like California State Telecomm. Relay Svc Surcharge are difficult to fathom. What could be Telecomm Realy Svc? Only California state could answer.You have state 911 and federal 911 tax.What's the need for two 911 surcharges? You have many surcharges charged both by both State and Federation.

Most ludicrous tax is High Cost Fund Surcharge. Whose cost of funds are high? Have you seen somebody charging you because some body's cost of funds is high?

Overall,this doesn't present a good picture of American Telecom sector.Higher number of taxes impede growth of any sector.

Take notice of some other indicators of existing Telecom mess::

1. Incoming calls are charged to receiver of call.(Operators in countries like India where Average revenue per user per month less than $15 do not charge customers for incoming calls.)
2. Non presence of pan US operator.(AT&T has license to operate in 22 states only.)
3. Not enough competition among telecom operators.
4. Non existence of cellular network in some parts of the country.(Hard to believe but truth is that there are some regions which don't have cellular coverage.)
5. Strong lobbying by incumbents like Verizon and AT&T etc(Their recent opposition to Google's suggestion of shared spectrum.)

Things don't look enthusiastic for Consumers.

Regulators should step in and take some path breaking decisions to clear this mess.It's sad to note that sorry state of affairs exists in an industry like Telecom which is considered to be backbone of knowledge society.

Progammers Guild : FAKE JOB AD VIDEO

I recently came across this video which is sponsored by Programmers guild. http://programmersguild.org/

The association is a lobby group which recently rebuffed Microsoft's appeal to Senators for increasing the H1b limit to 300,000. Subsequent to rejection of Bill, Microsoft had to open and expand Vancouver,Canada office as it was finding difficult to place employees without H1 visa in Redmond,US office .
This is a interesting video in which fake job Ads posted by employers are discussed.I have no idea about veracity of claims that are being made in this video but at least it gives another perspective on H1 Visas.

Father:RickShaw Puller, Son:IAS

He is Govind Jaiswal,22,IAS(dream job for a north Indian common man).I got this inspirational forward from one of my colleague.

His story is captured in numerous magazines , websites and blogs.

Yet another story of hard work,continuous struggle,passion,perseverance and unbirldled faith on System.

A rickshaw puller's son can manage to become IAS should inspire millions of people who are living in hope of coming out of poverty and struggle.

It's yet another story which proves that miracles do happen in India where government functions are replete with corruption and redtapism.

I just could not imagine the risk that he was riding on as his father had to sell land for Rs 40,000.

Studying for IAS requires great concentration unaffected by any metro city distraction which he could manage successfully.

It's proud event for govind to achieve his dream which will ensure a decent living his family members in future.

But these miracles happen once in million.This reveals ugly face of Indian system which doesn't guarantee people with decent human life even after 60 years of independence.

It's shame to all of us as we are way short of providing people with dignified living.

Ever wondered why all these stories of exceptional achievements in IITs and especially IAS come from feudal lands of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.UP and Bihar are feudal parts of country where development is abysmally low,population is high,castesim is rule of day.In these societies, people with lathi, rupiya and taakat(power) are respected.Common people like Govind can not attain first two but can attain later by getting a job that wields power.

I hope Govind will work developmental agenda unaffected by politicians' pressure and ugly politics.

M D Pai,True Visionary

I recently read the interview of Mohandas Pai, director on the Board and chief of HR,Infosys.

Here it is . Do read it

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2007/07/27/stories/2007072750020100.htm

I have always found him inspiring and visionary.If I am not wrong, he is only person in Senior Management who is not founder of Infosys. He is a glib talker and charismatic personality. Its pleasure to listen his views on Infosys and IT industry. After NRN and Nandan,If any body can leave audience spellbound,He has to be Mohan.He dreams big and believe in achieving them.

I remember asking him about non existence of ESOPs on billion dollar day celebrations in 2004, to which he hinted on creating Loyalty Bonus program which somehow is not there in priority list now.

I was watching PT Usha's dream to create Sports Academy in Kerala,India on National Geographic Channel. In that documentary, She profusely thanked Mohan's initial contribution of Rs 1 million.