The Georgia Public Service Commission voted unanimously last week to reduce a landline phone fee as a 10-year statutory program sunsets.
In 2011, the PSC began implementing a new state law that required telecommunications carriers to reduce the rates they charge each other to complete long distance calls. The practical effect of the law was to bring the costs for in-state long distance calls in line with the costs for out-of-state long distance calls. Prior to implementation by the PSC, it would often cost significantly more to place an in-state long distance call than to call across the country using a landline.
Having now fully implemented this program over a period of 10 years, the PSC voted unanimously on Tuesday to reduce the “Universal Access Fund” fee by 37.5% percent to account for the sunsetting program. The fee will drop from 6.00% to 3.75% on monthly bills beginning July 1, 2021.
“The bottom line is: business and individual customers in Georgia will see a savings on their phone bills,” said PSC Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, the chair of the PSC Telecommunications Committee. “This is welcome news for anyone with a landline
phone.”
A $50 phone bill would be reduced by slightly more than $1 per month under the reduced fee, resulting in more than $13 in annual savings. Although actual numbers are difficult to calculate, it is estimated that Georgia has about 1.7 million landline phones.
“Helping ratepayers save money on all of their utilities is something we strive for every day at the PSC,” said PSC Vice Chairman Tim Echols. “While doing that, we also want to improve technology, connectivity and sustainability to serve people for decades into the future.”
The Georgia Public Service Commission is a five-member agency that has the authority and influence to price telecommunications, electric and natural gas services from the respective companies.
