Deciding on a long distance phone company and long distance provider

There is not much difference on the service relating to a certain long distance phone company. If you use Sprint long distance or another long distance company, the service is all the same. The difference is in the billing plans and customer service. This makes it easier for you to decide on a long distance phone company. The major factors for choosing a long distance phone company should be price and plans. You can find discount long distance rates and see for yourself the difference in rate plans.

Making the right choice on a long distance phone company is very important. The right long distance phone company can help you save hundreds of dollars on your monthly long distance phone bill, depending on your calling habits. Compare the long distance phone carrier or long distance phone company you have used before and see what difference rates you can get. When you look for discount long distance rates you can find rates that are both higher and lower than your current plan. You choose the long distance rate that fits your needs the best.

The competition for your long distance business is intense. There are over 1,200 long distance carriers who want to provide long distance service to you. This means that many long distance phone companies will go to great lengths to gain your business. Of course, this means you can take advantage of the savings they offer. This is why it is important to shop around for the right long distance phone company.

Long Distance Phone Company: Universal Service Support Mechanism

The Universal Service Programs

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Congress recognize that telephone service provides a vital link to emergency services, government services, and surrounding communities. To help promote telecommunications service nationwide, the FCC, as directed by Congress, developed the Federal Universal Service Fund. There are four components to the Federal Universal Service Fund. They are:

• Low-Income. This program provides telephone service discounts to consumers with qualifying low-incomes.
  
  
• High-Cost. This program provides financial support to companies that provide telecommunications services in areas of America where the cost of providing service is high.
  
  
• Schools and Libraries. This program helps to ensure that the nation's classrooms and libraries receive access to the vast array of educational resources that are accessible through the telecommunications network.
  
  
• Rural Health Care. This program helps to link health care providers located in rural areas to urban medical centers so that patients living in rural America will have access to the same advanced diagnostic and other medical services that are enjoyed in urban communities.

Who Pays For Universal Service?

• Currently, Universal Service is supported by all telecommunications carriers that provide service between states and internationally. This includes long distance companies, local telephone companies, wireless telephone companies, paging companies, and payphone providers.
  
  
• Carriers pay contributions into one central fund. The FCC makes payments from this central fund to support the four Universal Service programs.

How Much Do Companies Contribute For Universal Service?

Companies contribute a certain percentage of the amount billed to their residential and business customers for interstate telecommunications services. The exact percentage that companies contribute is adjusted every quarter based on projected Universal Service demands.

My Telephone Bill Lists Universal Service Charges. Does The FCC Require Telephone Companies To Pass On Their Contributions To The Universal Service Fund To Their Customers?

• No. The FCC does not require companies to recover their contributions directly from their customers. Each company makes a business decision about whether and how to assess customers to recover Universal Service costs. Some companies do not impose specific Universal Service charges on customer bills.
  

TIPS FOR CONSUMERS

• Remember - The FCC does not require your phone company to place Universal Service charges on your bill. Telephone companies are taking very different approaches to whether and how they recover Universal Service costs from their customers.
  
  
• Let your company know if you believe these charges are inappropriate or are too high. It's in the company's best interest to meet the needs of its customers.
  
  
• Companies compete for your telephone business, so shop around. Call other companies and ask if they add these types of charges to their customers' bills. Ask companies to explain how these charges are calculated and exactly what amount would appear on your bill.
  
  
• If you have a contract with your telephone company, carefully read the contract to see if the company is allowed to add new charges or surcharges to your bill.