The following is an explanation of billing terms and the charges associated with them.
911 fee – A fee that OEC Fiber collects to cover costs of providing 911 emergency service. Providing 911 service is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The fee is charged per telephone access line or a percentage of revenue.
FCC regulatory charge – This fee is a monthly surcharge billed to subscribers to recover regulatory fees paid by OEC Fiber to the Federal Corporation Commission (FCC). According to sections 6(a) and 9(b) of the Communications Act, as amended, require the Commission to assess and collect regulatory fees every fiscal year to recover the Commission’s costs of carrying out its functions. These functions include enforcement activities,
Federal universal service fund – This fee is a monthly surcharge billed to subscribers to recover the funds it pays to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on interstate services to support the FCC’s universal service programs. The FCC regulates this charge; reviewing and adjusting the fee quarterly based on the FCC’s quarterly FUSF contribution factor. The FCC uses the fund to help keep local telephone rates affordable for all subscribers, support telecommunications services in schools, public libraries, and rural health-care facilities and subsidize local service to high-cost areas and low-income subscribers. *This charge does not apply to Lifeline subscribers.*
Franchise charge – A local franchise authority may impose a financial obligation on OEC Fiber to support public, educational and government programming channels in your area. Depending upon the specific provisions included in the local franchise agreement between your community and OEC Fiber, the fee is either based on the percentage of OEC Fiber TV revenue generated in your local franchise area, a per subscriber amount, or a lump sum payment.
Installation charge – Installation charges generally appear on your first bill in the One Time Charges section. It is normally billed over three months. Installation examples include adding additional wires and jacks or outlets for phone, internet or TV service.
Late fee – Fees billed to the account when there is an overdue balance from the previous month’s bill.
Partial monthly charges – OEC Fiber bills services one month in advance. If your services are activated in the middle of the monthly bill cycle, OEC Fiber will bill for the partial month as well as the following full month. EXAMPLE: If your statement date (bill cycle) is on the 15th day of each month and your service is activated on the 1st, your partial month charges would be for 15 days of service from the 1st up to the 15th. If a change is made in the Activation Date of your order, OEC Fiber will adjust your Partial Month Charges and Credits based on the new date and number of days in the Partial Month.
State universal service fund – This fee is a monthly surcharge billed to subscribers to recover the state universal service fee paid by OEC Fiber to states on applicable services. The funds are used to help keep local telecommunication rates affordable for all subscribers, support telecommunications services in schools, public libraries, and rural health-care facilities, and subsidize local services to high-cost areas and low-income subscribers.
Telecommunications sales tax – Government agencies impose and OEC Fiber collects taxes from purchasers of specified products and services. These taxes include state, county and city sales taxes as well as taxes collected by special purpose district agencies and mass transit agencies (MTA). The products subject to tax and the amount of the tax varies by area.