Understanding Your Bill: Taxes, Fees and Charges

Total taxes, fees, and charges appear on your billing statement under the Account Summary section on the first page of your bill. Frequently asked questions can be found on the second page of your bill. Additional billing information, including a breakdown of your Home Telecom services including pricing, can be found on the third page of your statement.

Below is a sample bill. Please keep in mind your bill will vary from these images based on your selected services.

(click image to enlarge)

Need more information about your bill? Review the links below:

How to read your bill, past due balances and disputing a charge.
View your monthly statement online.
Enroll in Auto Pay.

To look up terms of service, price and tariff information, please go to Terms of Service Information.

Below are explanations of what some of those taxes, fees, and charges mean on your bill. Some taxes, fees, and other charges are based on service selection and will not apply to all customers.

Fees/Surcharges (if applicable)

Broadcast TV Surcharge

The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 is a federal law that allows local U.S. broadcast TV stations (network affiliates like CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, etc.) to negotiate with cable and satellite providers (Home Telecom) for "consent" to carry their broadcast signals. This surcharge on your bill is a direct pass-through of the costs to provide local channels on your video platform. Learn more about the Broadcast TV Surcharge.
E911 Charge (9-1-1 fee)

This is a charge imposed by the local government to help the cost of 911 service. Your local government determines whether to provide a 911 system. Costs associated with the 911 systems are collected by Home Telecom each month and then paid to the local government providing the Emergency 911 Services to your area.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Fee

This is a fee that Home Telecom must pay to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cover the cost of the FCC's regulation of Home Telecom’s cable/video service.
Federal Universal Service Fund

The FCC created the USF fee which helps to make phone service affordable and available to all Americans, including consumers with low incomes, those living in areas where the costs of providing telephone service is high, public and non-profit schools and libraries serving low-income communities, and rural health care providers. Congress mandated that all telephone companies providing interstate service contribute to the USF.
Franchise Fee

Home Telecom collects a franchise fee on behalf of your local government and municipality. This fee is paid directly to the local government to use the public rights of way when providing cable service. The fee is a percentage of the revenues received from providing cable services, generally 3% in most areas, but can be slightly higher in some areas. Each year Home Telecom reviews the franchise fees recovered from customers to ensure the franchise fees collected are correct. The amount of the franchise fee itemized on your bill varies based on where you live, the level of service you subscribe to, etc. in a given month.
Late Payment Fee

A late fee is assessed to accounts having an unpaid balance from your prior billing period. The amount of the fee will vary based on the amount of the unpaid balance due.
Line Access

Monthly charge per-line to cover Home Telecom's cost to provide the local network that supports customers' ability to make and receive interstate and international calls.
Returned Check Charge

A returned check charge is assessed when a payment made to Home Telecom wasn't honored by the financial institution on which the amount was drawn. Returned check fees may be assessed on checks, electronic funds transactions or debit and credit cards. A returned check charge of up to $30 will be assessed for any returned payment. Additional charges may apply if further collection activity is required.
State Telecommunications Relay Service Charge

This charge provides for a telecommunications relay service, providing full telephone accessibility to people who have hearing or speech disabilities. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
State Universal Service Fund (USF) Fee

As with the Federal Universal Service Fund, this fee is used to subsidize and ensure affordable local telephone service to certain telephone customers within the State of South Carolina. Not all states charge this fee.

Taxes

County Sales Tax

The county imposes this sales tax. It's the same sales tax charged on ordinary consumer items.
Federal Excise Tax (FET)

Federal tax assessed on basic local telephone service that's billed separately from long-distance telephone service.
Local Sales Tax

This sales tax is imposed by the local jurisdiction, such as a city. It's the same sales tax charged on ordinary consumer items. The percentage of tax charged varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and depends on the jurisdiction in which the customer lives.
State Sales Tax

The state government imposes this sales tax. It's the same sales tax charged on ordinary consumer items.

Additional Messages

For all Home Telecom’s Legal Notices, please click here.
Complaint Procedures

If you disagree with your charges, you have 60 days from the billing date to register a complaint. During the dispute period, we won't terminate service, provided you pay the undisputed portion of your bill. Please email your complaint to us at service@hometelco.com or visit our website HomeSC.com/ContactUs to select your desired method of communication.
Franchise Fees

Cable companies, such as Home Telecom, are authorized by federal law to recover all franchise fees paid to local governments by itemizing a franchise fee on customers' monthly bills. When necessary, the franchise fee collected from customers may be adjusted to match the number of franchise fees remitted to your community. Your bill for that said month reflects such an adjustment.
Insufficient Funds Payment Policy

Home Telecom may charge an insufficient funds processing fee for all returned checks and bankcards. If your check, bank card (debit or credit) charge, or other instrument or electronic transfer transaction used to pay us is dishonored, refused or returned for any reason, you will incur an insufficient funds processing fee as set forth in your terms of service. The returned check amount (plus fee) must be replaced by cash, cashier's check, or money order.
Past Due Fee / Late Fee Reminder

A late fee will be assessed for past-due charges for service. The amount of this fee will be 1.5% of your past due amount. This percentage is subject to change.
Statements with Zero or Credit Balances

Customers with a zero or credit balance on their bill won't receive a paper statement.
Tax and Fees

This statement reflects the current taxes and fees for your area (including sales, excise, user taxes, etc.). These taxes and fees may change without notice. Visit Terms and Conditions for more information.
Terms & Conditions

Home Telecom's General Terms and Conditions for service can be located here.
Reconnection Fees

If your payment isn't received by the date stated on your reminder notice, your account is subject to interruption of service. Home Telecom equipment may be rendered non-functional prior to termination. You may be subject to a $15 reconnecting fee per service to reinstate your Home Telecom services.
Voice Fees Charge

These include charges to recover or defray government fees imposed on Home Telecom, and certain other costs related to our Voice (Phone) service, including a Federal Universal Service Charge and, if applicable, a State Universal Service Charge to recover amounts Home Telecom must pay to support affordable phone service, and may include a state Telecommunications Relay Service Fee to support relay services for hearing and speech impaired customers. Please note that these charges aren't taxes and are subject to change.

Special Note Regarding Phone Taxes: Government agencies have found phone bills to be an effective way to assess and collect taxes because most people receive one. Those taxes may subsidize various services at the federal, state and local levels (e.g., emergency services, telecommunications services for schools, libraries, health care facilities, etc.). Home Telecom and other companies offering phone service collect the required taxes as part of the total phone bill and send the appropriate amounts back to the taxing agency.

*For Home Telecom customers only. Some taxes, fees, and other charges are based on the service(s) selected and will not apply to all customers. Other restrictions may apply.

Understanding Your Bill: Taxes, Fees and Charges

Below is a sample bill. Please keep in mind your bill will vary from these images based on your selected services.

Need more information about your bill? Review the links below:

Fees/Surcharges (if applicable)

Broadcast TV Surcharge

E911 Charge (9-1-1 fee)

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Fee

Federal Universal Service Fund

Franchise Fee

Late Payment Fee

Line Access

Returned Check Charge

State Telecommunications Relay Service Charge

State Universal Service Fund (USF) Fee

Taxes

County Sales Tax

Federal Excise Tax (FET)

Local Sales Tax

State Sales Tax

Additional Messages

For all Home Telecom’s Legal Notices, please click here.

Complaint Procedures

Franchise Fees

Insufficient Funds Payment Policy

Past Due Fee / Late Fee Reminder

Statements with Zero or Credit Balances

Tax and Fees

Terms & Conditions

Reconnection Fees

Voice Fees Charge