Overview Of Nex-Tech Billing Charges
Below is an explanation of the charges appearing on your monthly Nex-Tech bill. Explanations for monthly local services are listed first, followed by explanations for long distance charges.
Monthly Local Service Charges
Monthly Service
This is a basic monthly service rate for dial tone, allowing you to make and receive local (non-toll) calls. Failure to pay local service rate and applicable taxes and fees will result in disconnection and loss of service.
Number Portability Charge
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that service providers ensure that customers are able to retain their existing numbers when they switch from one service provider to another. Established by the FCC, this is a fixed, monthly charge that allows local companies to recover some of their costs to provide number "portability" to customers.
End User 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.
911 Charge
A state/local government charge to fund emergency 911 services, such as fire and rescue.
Kansas End User Charge (KS END USER CHG)
This is a charge applied to monthly service and calling features mandated by the Kansas Corporation Commission to ensure all customers in rural high-cost areas of the state have access to affordable service. This charge supports the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF), which supports the Lifeline program, Kansas Relay Services, Telecommunications Access Program as well as network enhancements and upgrades in rural areas.
Universal Service Charge (UNIV SERV CHG)
The federal government established national programs to support universal telephone service. This fund assists with the costs of providing "affordable" services to low-income individuals and to residents in rural, high-cost areas. In addition, Congress has expanded the program to help schools, libraries and rural health care providers obtain advanced services, such as Internet access. All providers of telecommunications services contribute to the support of these programs. The amount on your bill depends on the services you order and the number of telephone lines you have. Generally, the surcharge is applied per line. This rate may be adjusted quarterly.
Federal, State and Local Taxes
These are excise and franchise taxes for telecommunications services assessed by the federal government, state of Kansas, and local cities and counties. Taxes will vary depending on your location.
LONG DISTANCE MONTHLY CHARGES
Federal Universal Service Fund Charge (FUSF)
Similar to the Universal Service Charge for local service, except this fee is applied as a percentage of your interstate and international long distance toll charges.
Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF)
This is a charge applied as a percentage of your intrastate long distance toll charges mandated by the Kansas Corporation Commission to ensure all customers in rural high-cost areas of the state have access to affordable service. This charge supports the Kansas Universal Service Fund (KUSF), which supports the Lifeline program, Kansas Relay Services, Telecommunications Access Program as well as network enhancements and upgrades in rural areas.
Itemized Toll Charges
Charges for individual toll (long-distance) calls made through the long-distance company customers have chosen as their primary carrier. There may be other itemized charges for directory assistance, collect calls, 900 calls, etc. Below is a description of the various abbreviations you may see on your bill.
BLI = Busy Line Interruption
CC = Calling Card
CCOP = Calling Card Directory Assistance by Operator
COLL = Collect Call
DACC = Directory Assistance using Calling Card
DADD = Directory Assistance using Direct Dial
DAOP = Directory Assistance by Operator
DD = Direct Dial LSV = Line Status Verification
OP = Operator Assisted Call RECL = Automatic Recall (Call Return)
REDL = Automatic Call Back (Automatic Redial)
TRAC = Customer Originated Trace
3RD# = 3rd Number (example: customer makes a call from a payphone to a number other than their home phone, but charges the call to their home phone number)
800 = 800 Number
900 = 900 Number
CABLE TELEVISION MONTHLY CHARGES
City Franchise Fee
Cable operators, such as Nex-Tech, are often required to pay a fee to the municipalities that they serve, for the rental of their rights-of-way. Federal law permits this "franchise fee" to be passed through to subscribers. In most cases, this fee appears on your monthly Nex-Tech billing statement as a separate line item. This fee is generally a % of certain revenues derived from our cable operations.
Federal Regulatory Fee
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) assesses an annual fee to telecommunications service providers, such as Nex-Tech, to recover the costs that it incurs in carrying out enforcement, policy and rule-making, as determined annually by Congress. These fees are permitted to be passed through to subscribers. This fee will generally appear on your monthly Nex-Tech billing statement as "Federal Regulatory Fee."
Note: This information is provided to assist you in understanding Nex-Tech bills. For any questions concerning your bill, please call us at 877-625-7872 or email us at
webmaster@nex-tech.com. 06/17/03 (Nex-Tech Communities)
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