The $240-a-Year Bill You Don’t Know You’re Paying

The $240-a-Year Bill You Don’t Know You’re Paying

September 7, 2011

Cable Television

There is no federal excise tax, but there are Federal Communications Commission fees and many state and local taxes added to cable bills. Among them, the FCC requires payment from cable operators on an annual basis to offset the cost of federal regulation. It goes to the FCC budget.

Certain franchise fees may be passed on to subscribers. For example, if local officials require cable operators to set aside channels for public, educational, and governmental use, the cost of maintaining the studio, equipment, and personnel may be passed on.
There is no federal excise tax, but there are Federal Communications Commission fees and many state and local taxes added to cable bills. Among them, the FCC requires payment from cable operators on an annual basis to offset the cost of federal regulationprevnext

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<p>Legal reform by taxation? Tennessee attempts to discourage frivolous lawsuits by imposing a tax on all litigation. The amount varies case-by-case and can be as little as $1. New York State also taxes litigation, though it imposes a flat fee of $25.</

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