Anyone checks line by line their cell phone charges?

[question everything]

Granted, we just started with our iPhones last year, through Consumer Cellular with AARP discount

We don't use it for fancy videos and stuff. But fees have been the same, with a few pennies more.

But the past few months a bit more that a few pennies so I decided to check the statements line by line. Excel to the rescue.

And I noticed that the Fed USF Cellular: Federal - whatever this means, has been going up.

It was 25.2% Jan-March, than down 23.8% April - June, and now, for July 33%.

When and how have cell phone usage got taxed increase? This should be an inflationary charge should it?

Do I even make any sense here?

I follow all our finances to the penny, really, so this caught me..

Any ideas?

[elleng]

1. Surprise!

In April 2021, the Federal Communications Commission started collecting a 33.4% contribution factor for the Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF), its highest rate ever. This fee is assessed on the interstate and international portions of your phone bill, including cellular, landline, and VoIP.


While it is a federal program, these are not taxes but discretionary fees that can change every quarter (and change they do).

For context, in the early aughts the contribution factor was in the single digits. The FCC revises the rate up or down each quarter, but it has been on an increase.

https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north-america/2021/05/federal-universal-service-fee-increases-again.html#:~:text=In%20April%202021%2C%20the%20Federal,cellular%2C%20landline%2C%20and%20VoIP.

I don't read/check the bills. 'Thanks' for informing us.

[Nittersing]

8. Just "liking" this reply!

Thanks elleng!

[elleng]

9. You're welcome; being informed is important.

[spooky3]

2. My bill went up $4 recently--very likely because of this. Nt

[padfun]

3. My cell phone bill is always $14.85

I have Xfinity Mobile. I don't watch TV on my phone.
And you have to have comcast to get this.

[Ilsa]

4. Yes. AT&T always tries to overcharge, and they have the auto-pay

gimmick and no mailed statement, hoping we won't log in to check the charges.

[question everything]

6. We use AT&T for landline we used to pay online, had difficulty, perhaps OK now

and told them and Xfinity that under no condition we will accept auto pay.

[pnwest]

5. Staight Talk Wireless. $49 per month, unlimited talk, text, data. Can't beat it.

[we can do it]

13. TMobile 55+ 2 lines unlimited talk text 5G - $50 month

We also have wireless wifi with them another $50 month…that’s total tax etc included.

[progree]

7. Consumer Cellular, AARP, latest bill, $33.69

30.00 Monthly charges
2.70 Surcharge & Other Charges
2.49 Government Taxes & Fees
-1.50 AARP Member Discount
--------------------------------------
33.69 Total charges (and the amount that will be autopaid)

Now under surcharges and other fees:
RATE   Amount
33.00   $0.80  Fed USF Cellular: Federal
FLAT   $0.01 FCC   Regulatory Fee (Wireless): Federal
FLAT   $1.89   Operational Compliance Fee
------------------------------------------------
----- $2.70 Total

What I don't understand is the 33.00 RATE that results in an $0.80 charge. 33%? 33% of what?
Oh, I suppose if I read elleng's link in #1, I'd slowly Grok it.
What does FLAT mean?

==============================
For anyone curious, it's an unlimited talk, unlimited text, and 3 GB / month of data usage.
I don't use anywhere near that amount of data usage, and really ought to get a lower cap and save a few bucks. Particularly because CC doesn't punish one for going over, they just raise the cap to the next tier when it happens. One can then reduce the cap again.

[Marcus IM]

10. I recently got a Mint $15/mo plan.

I'm liking it so far. I don't use much data at all, so their lowest tier plan is $15/mo - one caveat, you pay the entire year in advance for the plan. If you renew before your plan reaches the 12th month, you'll get the next year for the same price. I rolled the dice and went with this.

[lastlib]

11. My landline went up a few dollars this month for the FUSF,

and the company (whose name I won't mention because that would cause me to retch and spit fire) explained it in very tiny print at the tail end of the bill.

[question everything]

12. As it is on mine

I may contact my member of Congress (D) to ask why "the government"raises taxes on the Middle Class during inflation.