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Bill surcharges

Detail Local Services – Rates subject to change

Phone Usage Charges

E911
Rates are determined by county to support the cost of providing E911.

Local Service State Tax

  • SC state tax is 6%.
  • Applies to all retail revenue billed to the South Carolina Universal Service Fund (SC USF) surcharge (but no other surcharges).

Local Service County Tax

  • Subscribers in Clarendon, Lee, Florence, or Sumter County are assessed 2%.
  • Subscribers in Kershaw, Georgetown, or Williamsburg County are assessed 1%.
  • Applies to all retail revenue billed to the South Carolina Universal Service Fund (SC USF) surcharge (but no other surcharges).

Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC)

  • FUSC applied to all interstate an international regulated telecommunications revenue.
  • Federal Tax (3%) applies to Federal Universal Service Charge.

State Universal Service Charge (SCUSF)

  • Landline Lifeline customers are exempt (local service only).
  • Does not apply to other state surcharges (DPR, E911) or to unregulated revenues (Connection Protection)
  • Federal Tax (3%) applies to State Universal Service Charge.
  • State Tax (6%) + County Tax (determined by county) apply to State Universal Service Charge.

Access Recovery Charge (ARC)

  • Monthly charge approved by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and assessed by local phone companies to compensate other carriers for use of their network.
  • Allows carriers to recover some costs in the provision and maintenance of phone service.
  • Even though charge appears on local bill, it is governed by the FCC.

Dual Party Relay (DPR)

  • Assessed on a per access line basis to all phone service.
  • Administered by Office of Regulatory Services (ORS) and rate adjusted to fund requirements of the hearing-impaired
  • Relay communication service provides full phone accessibility to people who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled.
    • Gives individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech disabled the opportunity to make calls just like any other phone user.

Interstate Subscriber Line (ISL)

  • Tariffed by National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) and applies to all phone lines billed by eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) who participate in federal universal service fund carrier common line pool.
    • Does not apply to landline Lifeline customers.
    • Does not apply to DSI.
  • Maximum of 5 multi-business lines SLCs applied to Primary Rate Interface Integrated Services Digital Network (PRI ISDN).
    • Only one SLC applies to BRI ISDN even though there may be 2 voice channels.

Wireless Usage Charges

Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC)

  • FUSC applies to wireless, at the federally adopted “Safe Harbor” percentage of 37.1%.
  • Since wireless plans include local, intrastate and interstate usage, the Safe Harbor percentage is applied to account for the interstate portion subject to FUSC.

State Universal Service Charge (SC USF)

  • Does not apply to other state surcharges (E911).
  • Federal Tax (3%) applies to the State Universal Service Charge.

Universal Service Charge State Tax

  • State Tax (6%) + County Tax (determined by county) apply to the State Universal Service Charge.

Municipality Tax

  • 1% tax is assessed on all retail revenue billed to subscribers located within the incorporated city/town limits.
  • Not assessed to those with a county tax district.

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