Charge for Network Access (Subscriber Line Charge):
This charge covers the costs of the local phone network. This charge may appear as “FCC Charge for Network Access,” “Federal Line Cost Charge,” “Interstate Access Charge,” “Federal Access Charge,” “Interstate Single Line Charge,” “Customer Line Charge” or “FCC-Approved Customer Line Charge.” The FCC sets the maximum allowable Federal Subscriber Line Charge. This is not a government charge or tax, and it does not end up in the U.S. treasury.
Voice Mail:
This item is provided as a service by your local telephone company. This service may be disconnected for nonpayment, but nonpayment of this service will not result in disconnection of your local telephone service.
Universal Connectivity Fee (Universal Service Fund), Federal:
Because telephones provide a vital link to emergency services, to government services and to surrounding communities, it has been our nation’s policy to promote telephone service to all households since this service began in the 1930s. The USF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools and libraries and rural health care providers. Congress has mandated that all telephone companies providing interstate service must contribute to the USF. Although not required to do so by the government, many carriers choose to pass their contribution costs on to their customers in the form of a line item, often called the “Federal Universal Service Fee” or “Universal Connectivity Fee”.
Local Number Portability:
The FCC allows local telephone companies to recover certain costs for providing telephone number portability to its customers. Telephone number portability allows residential and business customers to retain, at the same location, their existing local telephone numbers when switching from one local telephone service provider to another. The LNP Charge is a fixed, monthly charge. Local telephone companies may continue to assess this charge on their customers’ telephone bills for five years from the date the local telephone company first began itemizing the charge on the bill. This charge is not a tax.
Emergency 911:
This charge is imposed by local governments to help pay for emergency services such as fire and rescue.
TRS (Telecommunications Relay):
This charge helps to pay for the relay center which transmits and translates calls for hearing-impaired and speech-impaired people.
Federal Excise Tax, Federal:
This three percent tax is now applied only to local service billed separately from long distance service.
State & Local Taxes:
This charge is imposed by state, local and municipal governments on goods and services. It may also appear as a “gross receipts” tax in some states.
Carrier Universal Service Charge:
Because telephones provide a vital link to emergency services, to government services and to surrounding communities, it has been our nation’s policy to promote telephone service to all households since this service began in the 1930s. The USF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools and libraries and rural health care providers. Congress has mandated that all telephone companies providing interstate service must contribute to the USF. Although not required to do so by the government, many carriers choose to pass their contribution costs on to their customers in the form of a line item, often called the “Federal Universal Service Fee” or “Universal Connectivity Fee”.
Single Bill Fee:
Some carriers charge a monthly fee for combining local and long distance charges onto one bill. This fee is not mandated by the FCC and is not an FCC charge. Some phone companies waive the fee for customers who pay bills online or by credit card. Also, consumers may avoid the “single bill fee” by arranging for separate billing from their long distance carrier.
last reviewed/updated on 01/14/13
