Common taxes and fees on your bill (Answered)

As we continue to make improvements to our products and services, and as programmers charge more to carry their networks, our cost of doing business increases. As a result, prices for certain services and fees go up from time to time.

In addition, there are some various local, state, and federal taxes that you will see on your bill.

While some prices do increase, please know we're always working to bring you greater value through faster internet speeds, better phone and programming services, and innovative products to ensure we equip your business with the right solutions.

Thank you for being a valued Comcast Business customer.

911 Fee - This fee helps states and localities fund their 911 systems, along with other emergency services. The amount of this fee varies by state, and in some states the fee may vary by locality. This fee represents a greater part of what the state or local governments charge us based on voice services. This surcharge may be calculated per access line, per telephone number, per account, or as a percentage of applicable charges. The amount may vary each month. This is a fee for Voice service.

988 Fee - In 2020, the Federal Communications Commission designated 988 as the 3-digit dialing number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Some states have implemented a 988 fee to fund crisis call centers and other services used to respond to 988 calls. If your state charges a 988 fee, it is located on the Taxes, Fees and, Other Charges section of your bill.

Broadcast TV Fee - An itemized charge you will see on your bill. This charge is not a government-mandated fee and will increase from time to time. It is based on our costs of providing the local broadcast stations that we carry on our cable systems in each area. These costs include the fees that broadcast stations charge us to carry them on our cable systems, which are among our largest increasing costs. The Broadcast TV Fee is not included as a part of our promotional pricing or pricing under your minimum-term agreement and can increase during your promotion or minimum-term. You will receive advance notice before an increase takes effect. This is a fixed monthly fee for Video service.

California Public Purpose Fund - Effective April 1, 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission implemented a new line-based surcharge to fund the state’s public purpose programs.  For more information, see https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/internet-and-phone/telecommunications-surcharges-and-user-fees.

Directory Listing Management Fee - This item covers the cost related to the management of customer’s directory listing(s). This is not a government mandated or required fee and will increase from time to time. This is a fixed monthly cost for Voice service.

Federal Excise Tax - The federal government requires this tax on some types of voice services. The rate is applied to local service billed separately from long distance service. This is for Voice service.

Franchise Costs - These costs are imposed by local governments beyond the Franchise Fee in exchange for allowing Comcast to build and maintain its cable network in their area. This is a percentage of applicable charges for Video service.

Franchise Fee - Franchise fees are paid to local governments as compensation for Comcast's use of the public rights-of-way and easements. The Federal Cable Act authorizes cable operators to collect from customers the full amount of franchise fees paid to local governments. This is a monthly fee or percentage of applicable charges for Video service.

Gross Receipts Tax - This tax is imposed by state and local governments on Comcast’s gross revenues. This is a percentage of applicable charges for Voice and Video service.

Public, Educ & Govt Fee – Public, educational, and governmental (PEG) access channel fees are assessed by cable franchising authorities for costs associated with those local channels. This is a monthly fee or percentage of applicable charges for Video service.

Regional Sports Fee - An itemized charge you will see on your bill. This charge is not a government-mandated fee and will increase from time to time. It is based on our costs of providing the regional sports networks that we carry on our cable systems in each area. These costs include the fees that regional sports networks charge us to carry them on our cable systems, which are among our largest increasing costs. The Regional Sports Network Fee is not included as a part of our promotional pricing or pricing under your minimum-term agreement and can increase during your promotion or minimum-term. You will receive advance notice before an increase takes effect. This is a fixed monthly fee for Video service.

Regulatory Cost Recovery - This fee is assessed by Comcast to recover certain federal, state, and / or local regulatory costs related to Voice, Video, and Ethernet Transport (ENS, EVPL, EPL) services. It is neither government mandated nor a tax. This fee includes components that may be calculated based on access lines, subscribers, or percentage of applicable charges. The amount may vary each month.

Sales Tax - Sales tax varies by state, and in some states, it may vary by locality. This is a percentage of applicable charges for Voice, Video, and Internet service.

State Communications Tax - This state tax is imposed on the sale of certain communications services. This is a percentage of applicable charges for Voice, Video and, Internet service.

Universal Connectivity Charge or Federal Universal Service Fee - This fee recovers the company's contribution to the Federal Universal Service Fund which ensures the availability of affordable communications services to low-income and rural customers as well as eligible schools, libraries, and healthcare providers.  This is not a tax or government-mandated fee. This fee is calculated by applying the contribution rate supplied by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to interstate and international communications services revenues including revenues for voice and data transport (e.g. ENS, EVPL and EPL) services.  The FCC modifies the contribution rate quarterly; the rate is published on the FCC's website.

Voice Network Investment - This charge covers Comcast’s investments in network and technology to ensure that we maintain a high quality network for our voice customers. This is not a government mandated or required fee and will increase from time to time. This is a fixed monthly cost for Voice service.