Free calls to Ukraine and more.

If only all data was created equal. Long distance in the telephone world is still a thing and I think it's cool for Cox not to charge extra for those international calls.

Of all the ways to freely communicate via IP...chat, email, text, video, websites, WiFi...we still treat landlines as a premium.  "Operator, Murray Hill 5-9975, please."

Repeat after me..."because they can". Ma Bell started it back when a long distance call meant a operator, which cost money. Now we have a global net run by computers but the profit greed is still real.

T'was more than just an operator but a dedicated circuit (circuit-switching).

"They" being the gov't too.  My bill boasts, "Cox Voice Essential Includes:  Basic Monthly Service, Essential Feature Pak (whatever this is) & Cox Long Distance.  Great, free long distance!  Not so fast...I call long distance:

- Usage Charges(Phone) +$3.65
- State Communications Service Tax +$0.21
- Federal Universal Service Fund +$0.49

For a grand total of +$4.35 (3.40%).  Which computer did $4.35 of work and what did the gov't do?  I need to repeat:  why do I have this thing!

Ugg, I hate charges. I have Ooma and even though the "service" is free, they still charge about 6$ a month in fees and taxes.

There are taxes with Ooma?  Isn't it just Internet?  According to the Internet Tax Freedom Act, no tax for Internet access.  Unless the gov't is taxing the service of Ooma and not the access.  $6 still cheaper than my $29.95.