Why Am I Paying This?

Why is it that the phone company can get away with charging for a service that I do not use?

I have Verizon. And I'm among the dying breed of people who still have a landline. I don't use my landline phone to call long distance. I don't have a long distance plan on that phone. Consequently, each month I am billed $5, plus an additional 54 cents in "taxes and surcharges" for not dialing long distance. If I use it, and spend more than the $5, the charge is not applied. Now how is that fair?

Would...