Another OT - phone bill

[sandnsea]

Do you guys pay all this stuff? My local phone & DSL is $76.00. Then there's all this stuff, and it seems like they tack on something new every month because just last year I was paying $85.00 a month. I know what some of it is for, like the 9/11 and PUC fees. But the rest of it, ???

Federal Excise at 3% 1.01

Federal Universal Serv Fund at 10.9% 0.71
This charge recovers the amount Qwest contributes to the Federal Universal Service Fund. This fund helps keep local phone rates affordable for all Americans.

Federal Universal Serv Fund Private Line at 10.9% 4.14
This charge recovers the amount Qwest contributes to the Federal Universal Service Fund. This fund helps keep local phone rates affordable for all Americans.

Oregon PUC fee as required by law 0.06
This per line charge recovers the amount Qwest remits to the Public Utility Commission. This fee helps to recover the cost of utility regulation.

Oregon Universal Service Surcharge of 7.12% 1.75
This charge recovers the amount Qwest contributes to the Oregon Universal Service Fund. This fund helps keep basic exchange rates affordable.

Residential Service Protection Fund at $.08 per access line 0.08
This charge funds relay centers that help hearing- and speech- impaired customers make and receive calls and funds programs used to provide telecommunication services to disadvantaged or disabled customers at a reduced rate.

State 911 at $.75 per access line 0.75
This surcharge, funds the cost of providing emergency services communications systems in your community.

Federal Access Charge 6.50
This charge, allowed by the FCC, covers part of the cost for providing access to and maintenance of the local network.

[whometense]

1. I have DSL, local phone, and cable tv

all wrapped up in one humongous bill which I usually avoid studying because I can never figure it out and it ends up giving me a giant headache.

But for you...

High Speed Internet
State Sales Tax 0.15

Cable
Franchise Fee 3.75
State Sales Tax 0.25

Telephone
Federal Subscriber Line Charge 6.44
Federal Excise Tax 1.44
Federal Universal Service Fund 0.70
State Sales Tax 1.10
State E911 Surcharge 0.85

[sandnsea]

2. Aw, thank you

So it looks like I've got these charges that you don't have, I've got two federal universal service funds, the other one is 70 cents, like yours. The hearing impaired fee is fine, 8 cents, and the PUC fee. So I guess the one I need to find out about is the $5.89 to keep my rates affordable, lol. I don't usually pay attention to this either, but my bill just keeps going up and up. Plus, QWest screws up billing A LOT, so $15 difference between my itemized phone charges and the amount due was a little weird.

Federal Universal Serv Fund Private Line at 10.9% 4.14
This charge recovers the amount Qwest contributes to the Federal Universal Service Fund. This fund helps keep local phone rates affordable for all Americans.

Oregon PUC fee as required by law 0.06
This per line charge recovers the amount Qwest remits to the Public Utility Commission. This fee helps to recover the cost of utility regulation.

Oregon Universal Service Surcharge of 7.12% 1.75
This charge recovers the amount Qwest contributes to the Oregon Universal Service Fund. This fund helps keep basic exchange rates affordable.

Residential Service Protection Fund at $.08 per access line 0.08
This charge funds relay centers that help hearing- and speech- impaired customers make and receive calls and funds programs used to provide telecommunication services to disadvantaged or disabled customers at a reduced rate.

[whometense]

3. Just curious -

did you have to look up those explanations, or were they actually printed on your bill?

Because there's nothing explaining any of them on my bill.

[sandnsea]

4. Printed on my bill

That's probably what the Oregon PUC is doing with the 6 cents they get, making sure this stuff is printed on my bill. :rofl:

[whometense]

5. In that case,

you are definitely getting your money's worth. :eyes: :rofl:

[sandnsea]

6. lol, true n/t