This month I got my first regular phone bill since I dropped internet service - last month's included refunds for the net for the part of the month it was turned off, and was only $3 or so.
I get a special rate available in Arizona for people with low incomes (150% poverty level) and a medical reason to need a phone, and the rate is now 15.16 monthly.
When I opened the bill I was shocked. The payment due is $31.81.
The main culprit seems to come under the heading "Related Monthly Charges." This includes two items:
Federal Access Charge 6.09
Access Recovery Charge 1.28
Related Monthly Charges Total $7.37
Does anyone know what that means? I certainly have no idea.
I did use Directory Assistance three times, and that's my own fault even though I didn't realize the rate was up to $1.85 per use.
The taxes are actually not that bad:
Federal Excise at 3% .88
State Sales at 5.6% 1.16
County Sales at .5% .11
State 911 at $0.20 per access line .20
I don't know what the charges added to broadband are. There are three speeds available on the low income program, starting at $10, $15, and $20 and increasing by $5 after one year. Since I haven't had television for more than six years, I do a good deal of streaming, and so was hoping to get the highest speed. Now I don't know.
I was also hoping to buy the modem; otherwise the rental is about $5 per month. I probably will have to rent since I'll be needing a new computer soon.
This is just a rant. Sympathetic indignation will be gratefully accepted, and if you have any information that could help, that will be more than welcome as well.