After increases in the fall and at the beginning of the year, Innovative Telephone, Innovative Wireless and Innovative Long Distance customers will notice a decrease in the Federal Universal Service Charge component of their bill, according to Innovative.
The FUSC Surcharge Factor recovers the costs associated with Innovative Telephone’s contributions to the federal universal fund program. The government-mandated program is designed to help keep telephone service rates affordable for all customers, in all areas of the United States.
In October, the Federal Communication Commission took action that increased the FUSC nationwide from 14.4 percent to 15.3 percent. Then, effective Jan. 1, 2012, the FUSC went up again, to 17.9 percent. At the time, Innovative said this would mean that for residential telephone customers and single-line business subscribers, the FUSC rate will increase from $.99 to $1.16. Multi-line telephone business subscribers will experience an increase from $1.40 to $1.64 per line.
Effective April 1, the FUSC will decrease from 17.9 percent to 17.4 percent. For residential telephone customers and single- line business subscribers, the FUSC rate will decrease from $1.16 to $1.13. Multi-line telephone business subscribers will experience a decrease from $1.64 to $1.59 per line, according to Innovative.
Customers with questions should contact the Innovative Business Office at 340-779-9999. Innovative’s Business Office hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.