What annoys me most about Whoopi and the phone taxes is one of them that she complains about is the Universal Service Fund that provides access to phone services at cheaper rates for those living in rural and high-cost areas, income-eligible consumers, rural health care facilities, and schools and libraries (I worked 20 years at a phone company). It's an FCC regulation the phone company has to pay so it passes the charge onto the customer. They don't have to but they do.
I just looked at my bill. It's about $4 of the total amount. Um Whoopi....if I can afford $4 so someone in rural Washington can have phone service so can you for the people of New Jersey. So yes....it IS a tax but in the mass scheme of things it's one of the smallest we pay.