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)

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.

Services