Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) Rate
Effective July 1, 2026, the Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) on your bill will increase as a result of an increase in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) universal service fund contribution factor from 37% to 38.8%. The FUSC is calculated in accordance with FCC rules by applying the new contribution factor of 38.8% (0.388) to the charges for interstate services. The federal universal service fund helps to ensure access to affordable communications services in hard-to-serve rural areas of the United States.
If the FCC takes no action on USAC’s projections of demand and administrative expenses and the proposed contribution factor, they will be deemed approved and become effective July 1, 2026. Although it is not anticipated, if there is any change in the effective date or the proposed contribution factor, we will advise you as soon as possible.
For questions, please email us at regulatory@tricolinksc.com or call us at 877-546-5823
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
- What is FUSC?
- The Federal Universal Service Fund (FUSF) helps keep telephone rates affordable for all customers, regardless of their location. It’s managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- How is it calculated?
- The FUSC is calculated as a percentage of interstate service charges.
- Why is it important?
- The FUSC helps to:
- Provide affordable telecom services to low-income individuals and residents in high-cost, rural areas.
- Support leading-edge services for schools, libraries, and rural healthcare providers, including high-speed internet access.
- The FUSC helps to: