Phone Bill Fees Explained: Universal Service, 911, Access Charges and More
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How we wrote this: A plain-English summary of the FCC consumer guide Understanding Your Telephone Bill, checked October 29, 2026. Fees vary by provider and state.
Why bills are confusing
The FCC says it gets tens of thousands of billing complaints a year. Knowing what each line means makes it easier to spot real problems, like cramming.
Common fees and charges
| Line item | What it is |
|---|---|
| Federal access / subscriber line charge | Local phone companies may bill part of the cost of access to their local network. It's not a government tax. The FCC sets a maximum, and companies may charge less or nothing. |
| Universal Service | Providers must contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund, which supports rural and high-cost areas, Lifeline and other programs. Passing the cost on is allowed but not required, and it can't exceed the provider's own contribution percentage. |
| 911 / E911 | Helps local governments pay for emergency services. On wireless bills, it can cover Enhanced 911, which sends your location. |
| Local number portability | Covers keeping your number when you switch carriers at the same location. It's not a tax, and some carriers don't charge it. See porting a number. |
| Telecommunications Relay Service | Funds relay services for people with hearing or speech disabilities. |
| Taxes | State, local and municipal taxes, sometimes shown as "gross receipts." A 3% federal excise tax applies only to local service billed separately from long distance. |
Wireline only:
- Minimum monthly charge, which some long distance companies bill even if you make no calls.
- Single bill fee for combining local and long distance. It's not FCC-mandated, and you can avoid it with separate billing.
Wireless:
- Airtime and overage charges.
- Roaming.
- Text messaging or data over the plan; see usage alerts.
- Detailed billing fees.
Truth in Billing rules
The FCC requires phone companies to:
- describe charges in clear, plain language;
- show which charges could get basic local service disconnected if unpaid;
- list a toll-free number for questions and disputes;
- tell you about blocking options for third-party billing; and
- put third-party charges in a separate section, with their own subtotal.
If something looks wrong
- Call the phone company and ask it to remove incorrect charges. You can also call the company behind the charge.
- If that fails, file with the FCC, your state public service commission (for in-state phone service), or the FTC (for non-phone charges).
Related: broadband labels, slamming, toll-free vs. local numbers.