Fees and Taxes

The following charges are in addition to the "rate per minute" call charges. Check with your long distance carrier for information on their charges. (Also see if they will easily give you ALL of their "non government mandated" charges in one complete list like we do.)

One time charge

Switching Fee: Your local telephone company might charge you a fee to change long distance companies (current fees range from $5 to $10 per line). This is a one time charge from your local telephone company. We do not reimburse this fee.

Monthly flat charges (same per month regardless of calls)

PICC Fee: The PICC Fee is charged monthly according to how your lines are registered with your local telephone company; residential, business, or Centrex.
- Business lines: $0.00 for first line, $4.31 per regular switched line after the first line.
- Residential lines: No PICC fee.
- Centrex lines: $0.48 per Centrex line.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Fee: 99¢ per month.
The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fee allows PowerNet Global (PNG) to recover various costs of network development and maintenance, regulatory proceedings and compliance, fraud monitoring, account provisioning and maintenance and other costs incurred by PNG in the provision of interstate telecommunications services. This fee is not a government mandated tax or surcharge.

Toll-Free Numbers: If you have any toll-free (800, 888, 877, 866) numbers with PNG, there is a $2.99 monthly fee each toll-free number.

Calling based charges (charges based on the amount of calls you make)

Low Use Fee: For the Business 100 and Business 350 plans, a $2.95 fee is added to the account in any month that total usage falls under $25.00.

FCC Payphone Surcharge: 65¢ per call if you use your calling card at a payphone or if someone calls your toll-free number from a payphone. This fee is a government mandated surcharge.

Network Access Charge: 12.9% of interstate and international calls.
The Network Access Charge allows PNG to recover various carrier charges and administrative costs associated with originating and completing interstate and international calls. It is charged as a percentage of interstate and international usage charges, and any associated charges related to providing interstate service. This fee is not a government mandated tax or surcharge.

Universal Service Fund: 9.7% of interstate and international calls.
The Universal Service Fund recovers the cost of required contributions to the Universal Service Fund which supports the provision of telecommunications services to low income individuals, rural populations, schools and libraries and rural hospitals. It is calculated as a percentage of interstate and international usage, and any associated charges related to providing interstate service. This fee is not a government mandated tax or surcharge.

All remaining local, state, and federal taxes are charged the same across all long distance companies.