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House advances overhaul of communications taxes and right-of-way fees; per-line universal service fee proposed
Summary
H.657 would switch the universal service fund contribution from a percentage to a 72¢ per-line fee, repeal an outdated telephone personal property tax and require communications providers to report inventories for assessment of a per-linear-foot right-of-way fee; floor amendments clarified exemptions and confidentiality rules.
The House debated H.657, a multi-part telecommunications modernization bill that seeks to stabilize revenue for the Vermont Universal Service Fund, repeal a 1947 telephone personal property tax, set communications property on local grand lists, and require assessment of a right-of-way fee on broadband and wireless providers using state-owned rights of way.
Ways and Means explained a primary change: replace a proportional 2.4% charge on retail voice services with a flat per-line contribution of $0.72 to stabilize an eroding revenue base for beneficiaries such as enhanced 911. The committee also proposed exempting Lifeline and Relay…
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