Second, while SO/PCM calls it a 911 fee I suspect the 99¢ pays for more than just the 911 system. It costs the carrier to provide cell service even if you don't use it in a particular month. It also costs them money to maintain your account as well as to maintain your phone number. Phone numbers are a limited resource. That's why we have area code splits like 416 -> 905 and then overlays like 416/647.

While I don't like paying the 99¢ 911 fee either, I accept that it's necessary for SO/PCM to charge some minimum amount per account in order to pay their bills. I think $12/year is a reasonable fee under the circumstances. I prefer paying it rather than having to spend $10/month minimum on airtime, whether I use it or not, or having airtime expire in less than one year as other carriers charge.

Finally, as you noted, Telus is making a big deal about reducing their monthly rate by less than 10%, i.e. from $32.70 to $30.00 and tossing in "free" voicemail. Big deal. They're going to have to do a lot better than that if they want to compete with the new carriers that launch soon, never mind SO.

Of course, they're raising their monthly rate up $5 at the same time (go figure) because they're now "including" Voice Mail.... alrighty then. :b

I have to wonder if they'll get rid of the 911 fee for their prepaid phones as well and if other carriers, like SO, follow suit as well. Let's hope so.

This just goes to show you that these fees were not "government mandatory" and simply a money grab by all the cell phone carriers on top of their rates. I'll get off my soap box now. :b