Windows Phone Thoughts: New Charge On US Cell Phone Bills This Month, Or Is It Just Me?

Has anyone checked their cell phone bill this month? We have four phones on our plan, one for each of us because we don't have a land line in the house. There was a $3.44 "other" charge on the phone bill. I always notice these things in the "other" column because that is usually where international surcharges are that I often get reimbursed from my employer on, or it is where someone in the family has used information instead of Google. It turns out it was $0.86 per phone for "Fee we collect and retain to help cover our costs related to funding and complying with government mandates, programs and obligations." Uhm... yeah. I wish I could charge my customers a fee for complying with the government for things like tax returns, property tax filings, business licenses, etc.

It amazes me what phone companies, both cellular and land lines, and cable companies get away with.