Each month there are a variety of fees and charges on your local telephone bill.  In many cases, Western Iowa Telephone provides a collection service for state, federal and local agencies, as well as some long distance companies, and passes the revenues collected on to the appropriate agency.  The following definitions will help you understand these charges, what the revenues are used for, and why the revenues are being collected.  Some items may vary according to your personal usage or any additional services to which you subscribe.  For specific questions about your telephone bill, contact Western Iowa Telephone at 944-5711.

Access Residence/Access Business

This charge is a Western Iowa Telephone charge that covers the monthly price of providing dial tone telephone service to your business or residence, connecting your line to our switching equipment and allows you to access the nationwide telecommunications network.

911 Surcharge*

Western Iowa Telephone collects a monthly surcharge for each county on each local telephone line.  The monthly surcharge, which is remitted to the appropriate county, is used to support the E911 response system.

Long Distance Access Charge*

A monthly charge created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to compensate local telephone companies for a portion of the cost of providing the local telephone lines determined to be associated with interstate services such as interstate long distance service.

Federal Tax*

The federal government levies a 3% charge on both local and long distance charges.

State Tax*

A charge of 5% is levied by the state government on goods and services.

Local Tax*

A charge is levied by the local government on goods and services.  The percentage is dependent on the county.

Carrier Line Charge*

Some long distance carriers assess this fee to help recover some of the costs they incur when using Western Iowa Telephone networks.  The amount of the charge varies for business and residential consumers and the type of services.

Federal Universal Service Fee/Universal Connectivity Charge*

This fee is charged by long distance companies in support of Universal Service.  Universal Service is a federal government program that provides funding for telecommunications services and products associated with connecting schools, libraries, low-income consumers, rural healthcare providers and consumers in rural areas.

* Western Iowa Telephone collects these charges and passes the revenues on to the appropriate agency.