Access Recovery Charge [telecom]

Jun 20, 2013 2 Replies

Rate this thread:

Dave Garland 13 years ago

Having just received a bill in which CenturyLink (motto: "proving Qwest wasn't so bad after all") raises my Access Recovery Charge, I started to wonder. The bill says the charges are "to recover costs of providing access to the telephone network". Since I do not receive any telephone service from CenturyLink (only DSL, a non-regulated service), or the "telephone network" (aside from the copper from my house back to the pedestal 2 blocks away) should I be subject to this charge?

Google finds FCC filings and rulings regarding the Access Recovery Charge, so is this actually a federally regulated thing (and not just another BS "extra charge for being alive")? And if so, should I be charged it, since I'm not using the switched telephone network?

Vote

Fred Goldstein 13 years ago

The price of DSL is not regulated. So they can charge whatever they want, consistent with ordinary contract and fraud law of course.

"Access" generally covers the cost of the wire, not the switched network that the wire is going to, so not being a switched telephone service, or not making LD calls, doesn't impact it. Access recovery charges are allowed on some telephone bills, where they are regulated, because part of the cost of phone service is in interstate jurisdiction, and the FCC sets those prices.

Vote

T 13 years ago

Like most of the fees and other 'taxes' on our phone bills this is just a money grab by the incumbent telco.

It's why I ditched even Vonage - they were getting ridiculous on the fees. And I'm still getting email from them asking me to come back. Yeah, right.

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required