Legislature: Lawmaker targets Chunghwa

PFP Legislator Li Yong-ping (李永萍 ) yesterday accused Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信), the monopolized provider of local phone service, of gouging its customers and demanded the state-run firm promptly quit the practice. Li said that over the years, the company has been charging its customers for so-called "indoor wiring maintenance fees," in violation of consumer regulations. "By collecting NT$5 each month from its 9 million customers, the firm is able to add an estimated NT$540 million to its annual revenue when many customers never benefit from the service," the lawmaker noted. Li pressed the firm to stop charging the fees, which she said should be collected when the service in question is called for. But Lo Wen-tsung (駱文宗), a Chunghua Telecom official, said that the fee is reasonable. In Japan, the fee amounts to NT$16 a month regardless of whether the service is utilized, Lo said, adding that in the US, customers have to pay about NT$2,500 each time the service is asked for.