The FCC Access Charge that appears on your telephone bill is a charge for using long distance carrier circuits for originating and terminating calls.

Charges on your telephone bill labeled “non-local charges” are charges for services not regulated by the State Public Utility Commission.

The Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) charge is assessed to all telecommunications companies with interstate operations, including long distance carriers, wireless companies and payphone companies. The amount collected funds telecommunications service discounts to schools, libraries, rural health care providers and low-income customers.

Telecommunications companies are required by both the FCC and State Public Utility Commissions to identify the charges on their bills as either local or non-local and to indicate the taxes associated with these classifications.