One problem I have with that Atlantic article, is that it says that the USF is not a tax.

It is. It exists due to a congressional mandate, and, going by John Roberts writing for the majority on the SCOTUS ruling regarding the ACA (aka Obamacare) , the USF is indeed a tax.

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)