At NTS, we recognize that billing is a concern for many of our customers.
In order to streamline the payment process, we offer several services such as online bill pay, an in-depth explanation of your bill and contact information for those concerns that cannot be answered on a website.
Bill Charge Definitions
FCC Approved End User Common Line Charge
This fee pays for some of the costs associated with interstate access to local phone networks.
Local Number Portability Charge
This charge funds a system which allows you to keep your local telephone number when switching from one local service provider to another.
9-1-1 Service Fee
This charge funds free 9-1-1 calls from pay phones and helps pay for enhanced 9-1-1. Enhanced 9-1-1 is an advanced software system designed to assist emergency personnel in determining a street address or physical location for callers through their phone line.
Municipal Charge
This is a franchise fee paid to local municipalities for rights-of-way used for telephone services.
Universal Service Fee
The USF is a fund that helps bring affordable basic phone service to all Americans, including schools, libraries and rural health care providers. NTS adds this surcharge to cover our support for the fund.
TIF Reimbursement
Fees go to the Texas Infrastructure Fund created by the Texas Legislature to pay for grants to public schools, hospitals and libraries for advanced telecommunications services.
Federal Excise Tax
This is a three percent tax mandated by the federal government and levied on all telecommunications services.
State Sales Tax
Telephone services are subject to state sales taxes. State and local tax combined cannot exceed 8.25 percent.
City Telecommunications Tax
This is a tax collected on telephone services subject to city sales taxes. State and local tax combined cannot exceed 8.25 percent.
Texas Universal Service Fee
Funds from this charge go to the Texas Universal Service Fund. This fund supports Relay Texas and Specialized Telecommunications Device Assistance programs for the hearing disabled, low-income discount programs and rural high-cost customers.
Gross Receipts Assessment
Revenues from this tax are used to appropriate funds to the Texas PUC and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). Amounts generated but not appropriated to those agencies remain in the General Revenue Fund.
9-1-1/Poison Control Equalization Surcharge
The 9-1-1 Surcharge generates additional funds for regions that do not collect sufficient funds through the 9-1-1 emergency service fee. The state 9-1-1 advisory commission imposes this surcharge on customers receiving intrastate long-distance service. The Poison Control Surcharge funds six regional poison control centers that are open 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week, and toll-free referral and information services.
