We've prepared the following guide to help you understand many of the taxes, surcharge, fees and assessments you might see on your Integra invoice.
Integra collects and remits a wide range of federal, state and local taxes, surcharges and fees in support of government programs, or on behalf of governmental entities that impose them on communications providers, for the sale of goods and services. These charges include, but are not limited to, sales and use taxes, franchise fees and emergency services surcharges; they vary by jurisdiction and may be as specific as “transit” or “district” taxes.
| Charge | Definition |
|---|---|
| Universal Service Fund (USF) | Universal Service Fund surcharges support the provision of affordable telecommunications services to rural, isolated, and high-cost areas; low-income residential subscribers; schools and libraries; and rural health care programs. All communications companies (including local, long distance, cellular, and paging providers) must contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund; and several states also have Universal Service programs funded by rate-payers. |
| Telecommunications Assistance "Lifeline" Programs (e.g. TAP, LITAP) | These surcharges fund "Lifeline" programs. These are state-run programs to lower the cost of residential telephone service for persons who meet certain income guidelines, have a disability, or are at least 65 years of age. TAP surcharges are assessed to all telephone customers (except Lifeline recipients) at a flat rate per line. |
| Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) & Telephone Assistance for Communications Impaired Persons (TACIP) | TRS programs enable telephone conversations for communications impaired persons through the use of special equipment and Relay Service operators. TRS programs are administered at both the state and federal level. Many states also have programs that provide for the distribution of communications devices to eligible communications-impaired persons. |
| E911 Emergency System Charge | The E911 surcharge funds community 911 emergency telephone systems. |
| Public Utility Commission Fee (PUC) | Some states require telecommunications providers to collect fees to support the operations of the state public utilities commission. |
| Federal, State and Local Taxes, Surcharges & Fees | Integra collects and remits a range federal, state, and local taxes, surcharges and fees levied on communications providers for the sale of goods and services on behalf of the government entities that mandate these charges. These include, but are not limited to, sales taxes and municipal franchise fees. These taxes and fees vary by jurisdiction. |
Integra may also impose the following Company-specific surcharges to support its provision of telecommunications services.
| Charge | Definition |
|---|---|
| Interstate Access Charge (IAC) | The IAC defrays the costs of maintenance and upkeep of Integra's network so that customers can access the interstate telecommunications network to place and receive interstate, off-shore and international long distance calls. This monthly recurring charge is assessed as a flat rate per line or circuit for single and multi-line customers. |
| Interconnection Fee (ICF) | The ICF is designed to recover portions of the Company's costs of interconnection to the public switch telephone network (PSTN). The ICF is a monthly recurring charge assessed as a flat per line or circuit. |
| Network Access Assessment (NAA) | The NAA is assessed as a percentage of recurring charges for local and intrastate services (depending on service location); interstate and international services, data, IP-platform and cloud services; private-line services; and the Interstate Access Charge (IAC) and Interconnection Fee (ICF). |
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