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.
