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BellSouth bills
may go up for some customers
BellSouth customers will notice
several changes on their phone bills this summer.
Working with local and long-distance telephone companies, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved a plan that will cause
some changes to your local and long-distance telephone bills. This plan
comes from a reduction in fees that long distance companies pay to local
telecommunications companies like BellSouth.
Under the plan, nearly all customers will pay less when their local and
long distance telephone bills are added together. For some, total bills
may remain the same.
On long distance bills, long-distance companies will stop charging customers
a National Access Fee (also known as Presubscribed Interexchange Carrier
Charge or PICC). This will amount to savings of about $1.50 a month. And,
many long-distance telephone companies will now offer plans that do not
require a minimum service fee.
On local bills, you’ll no longer see a National Access Fee (or PICC)
on your local bill if you do not choose a long-distance company. The FCC
Network Access Charge (formerly referred to as the Subscriber Line Charge)
will increase, and there will be a new charge for Federal Universal Service
Fund. This federally approved fund helps keep local phone service affordable
for all people and gives a discount to schools, libraries and low-income
families.
The end result is a lower total cost for telephone service. Your first
telephone bill to show the changes will include an explanation and a number
to contact with questions. Or, Internet subscribers can visit www.phonebillcentral.org
for more information.
Gene Gulledge
District Manager
Corporate Affairs
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