Telecom regulatory fees and assessment obligations can be burdensome and, when handled incorrectly, may seriously diminish carrier finances. 911 service fees assessed on a statewide basis are fairly easy to calculate and remit, but it can be challenging in those jurisdictions where funding varies at the county or municipality level. USF fees change and there are states where those changes must be reflected in your tariffs.
Failure to comply can be costly and result in penalties and in some cases the loss of a carrier’s certification. However, with the timely implementation of rate changes and the awareness of other related rules, a carrier can mitigate the impact to their bottom line.
Q. Are there any state telecommunication relay service (TRS) funds that allow me to retain an administrative fee?
A. Yes. There are at least ten (10) states that will allow the collecting carrier to deduct an administrative cost from their TRS surcharge/fee remittances.
Q. Isn’t the standard deduction for an administrative fee one percent (1%)?
A. No. Although a one percent (1%) administrative fee is common for many funding obligations, these amounts vary by carrier type, funding obligation, and amount. In some cases, a carrier may retain as much as three or four percent for their administrative costs.
Q. Do VoIP providers have any TRS funding obligations?
A. Only ten (10) states require a VoIP provider collect and remit a surcharge to fund TRS.
Q. Are wireless providers’ 911 funding obligations the same as wireline or VoIP providers’?
A. Neither. Although there are similarities, wireless provider 911 obligations differ from their wireline counterparts in approximately 15 states and from their VoIP provider competitors in approximately 11 states. (See the chart below)
911 Fee Assessments |
|
|
|
|
|
State |
Wireline |
Wireless |
Prepaid Wireless |
VoIP |
|
Alabama |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Alaska |
Municipality |
Municipality |
None |
None |
|
Arizona |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Arkansas |
By Political Subdivision |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
California |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Colorado |
Governing Body |
Governing Body |
Statewide |
Governing Body |
|
Connecticut |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Delaware |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Dist. of Columbia |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Florida |
County |
Statewide |
None |
Statewide |
|
Georgia |
Municipality |
Municipality |
Statewide |
Municipality |
|
Hawaii |
Statewide |
Statewide |
None |
Statewide |
|
Idaho |
County |
County |
Statewide |
County |
|
Illinois |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
County |
|
Indiana |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Iowa |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Kansas |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Kentucky |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
County |
|
Louisiana |
District |
District |
Statewide |
District |
|
Maine |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Maryland |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Massachusetts |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Michigan |
County & Statewide |
County & Statewide |
Statewide |
County & Statewide |
|
Minnesota |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Mississippi |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
County |
|
Missouri |
County |
None |
None |
County |
|
Montana |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Nebraska |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
County |
|
Nevada |
County |
County |
None |
None |
|
New Hampshire |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
New Jersey |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
New Mexico |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
None |
|
New York |
County |
County & Statewide |
None |
County |
|
North Carolina |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
North Dakota |
County |
County |
Statewide |
County |
|
Ohio |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
None |
|
Oklahoma |
County |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Oregon |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Pennsylvania |
County |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Rhode Island |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
South Carolina |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
South Dakota |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Tennessee |
Calling District |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Texas |
District & State |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Utah |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Vermont |
Statewide (via USF) |
Statewide (via USF) |
None |
None |
|
Virginia |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
Statewide |
|
Washington |
County & Statewide |
County & Statewide |
County & Statewide |
County & Statewide |
|
West Virginia |
County |
Statewide |
None |
County |
|
Wisconsin |
County |
None |
None |
None |
|
Wyoming |
County |
County |
None |
County |
Many of our telecom clients find critical information regarding telecommunications regulatory fees and assessment, including current rate, billing, and remittance information via TMI’s newest cloud-based application – The Telecom Regulatory Fees & Assessments Application. The application includes access to the relevant background data for answers to your unique questions. Access a FREE report from the application’s database via the button below.
Contact Ann-Marie Kemp akemp@inteserra.com if you need additional information.