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Monthly Local Service-
Basic Service:
Dial tone- a service that allows you to make &
receive local (non-toll) calls. Failure to pay local service rate and
applicable taxes and fees will result in disconnection and loss of service.
Local service is billed one month in advance.
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Federal $6.50 Line Charge:
A flat monthly charge, established
by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), assessed directly to
customers to help local telephone companies recover some of their
costs in constructing and maintaining the local network. In July
2002, the FCC raised the SLC cap for community based telecom
providers to $6.50 monthly for residential and single-line business
customers. The SLC cap for multi-line businesses remains $9.20 per
line. The FCC's action brings the SLCs of independent companies in
line with those charged by urban companies. |
The SLC is part of
the FCC's campaign to promote competition in the U.S. telecom industry and
reflects its intent to make end-user customers more directly responsible for
these costs. The SLCs do not result in additional revenue for your local
telecom provider.
Long Distance Service-
Federal Universal Service Fund:
Similiar to the FUSC for local service, except that most national
long-distance companies have opted to charge percentage fees well above the
mandatory federal level currently set at approximately 7%-some, in fact,
have suggested charging customers as much as 13% of their monthly
long-distance charges.
Single Bill Fee:
Some long-distance companies
charge customers as much as $1.50 to include long-distance charges on the
same bill as their local charges.
Usage (1+) calls:
Charges for individual toll
(long-distance) calls (Dial 1) made through the long-distance company
customers have chosen as their primary (1+) carrier. Generally, these calls
are rated (priced) based on place, duration and time-of-day. Other plans
offer customers reduced rates, with a monthly "buy-in" fee.
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