Federal Universal Service Recovery Fee

PLEASE NOTE:  As of 8/18/06 MCN no longer charges FUSF fees.  The information below is provided for historical purposes.
The following language regarding the Federal Universal Recovery Fee is quoted from the Federal Communication Commission

"Because telephones provide a vital link to emergency services, to government services and to surrounding communities, it has been our nation’s policy to promote telephone service to all households since this service began in the 1930s. The USF helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, schools and libraries and rural health care providers. Congress has mandated that all telephone companies providing interstate service must contribute to the USF. Although not required to do so by the government, many carriers choose to pass their contribution costs on to their customers in the form of a line item, often called the “Federal Universal Service Fee” or “Universal Connectivity Fee”."

"The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress recognize that telephone service provides a vital link to emergency services, government services, and surrounding communities. To helppromote telecommunications service nationwide, the FCC, as directed by Congress, developed the Federal Universal Service Fund."

The current incarnation of the FUSF was introduced into tax law created by United States Congress, via the FCC in 1998. Title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 36, 54, and 69.

More information regarding the FUSF can be found at

• Universal Fund Increases: What Every Consumer Should Know
• FCC Universal Service Page
• The Federal Communications Commission
  
  

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