We're committed to delivering the entertainment and services you rely on today - and the new experiences you'll love down the road. From time to time, we may adjust service prices and fees. These increases help us to consistently improve our network, products and services, as well as cover the rising costs to our business. You may not realize that we pay programmers like Fox, ESPN, HBO® and others to be able to bring you their programming. Programming fees - what we pay to programmers - are one of our largest costs and increase regularly. Changes to the fees we charge ensure your access to top networks and the latest entertainment. We're sharing this information to be more transparent about what drives changes in your bill. Below is a list of common fees, taxes and other charges, along with their explanations.
Other Charges
Broadcast TV Fee The Broadcast TV Fee is an itemized charge that 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 the broadcast stations charge us to carry them on our cable systems. 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. Equipment Rentals If you rent your TV Box, modem or voice equipment from Xfinity, you may see a separate line item on your monthly bill. Your equipment rental fee could be included in your service charge or be provided as part of a promotion, in which case you may not see a separate charge for that equipment. However, depending on your package, we may charge separately for the equipment. If you are receiving equipment under a promotion, you will be charged the rental fee for that equipment when your promotion ends. This rental fee may change from time to time, and you will receive advance notice before an increase takes effect. Regional Sports Network Fee The Regional Sports Network Fee is an itemized charge that you will see on your bill. This charge is not a government-mandated fee and will increase from time to time. It is based upon 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. The Regional Sports Network Fee is not included in 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. Regulatory Recovery Fee The Regulatory Recovery Fee represents a portion of the costs imposed on our business by federal, state and local governments related to voice services. The fee we charge you is not a government-mandated fee, but these costs are outside our control and so are passed through to our customers. This fee may change from time to time. Universal Connectivity Charge (or Federal or State Universal Service Fund) The Universal Connectivity Charge represents a portion of our contribution to a federal fund that ensures the availability of affordable communications services to low-income and rural customers (as well as eligible schools, libraries and health care providers). The fee we charge you is not government-mandated, but these costs are outside of our control and so are passed through to our customers. This fee may change from time to time. Other Service Providers Third-party companies, such as Netflix, billed through your monthly bill may increase their pricing from time to time. Each third-party company is responsible for notifying you of their price change. Their adjusted pricing will be reflected on your monthly bill.
Taxes, Fees and Surcharges
State or Local 911 Fee This fee helps states and localities fund their 911 and E911 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. Federal Excise Tax The federal government requires this tax on some types of voice services. State and Local Sales Tax Sales tax varies by state, and in some states, it may vary by locality. State and Local Gross Receipts and Utility Taxes We assess these taxes to recover the costs of certain states and local taxes that we're charged. These taxes vary by state and in some states, the tax may vary by locality. The fee we charge you is not government-mandated, but these costs are outside our control and so are passed through to our customers. This fee may change from time to time. State and Local Communications Services Taxes These state or local taxes are imposed on communications services such as voice, data, audio or TV services. Athletic Fee Charged only in New Mexico, this tax is imposed on live pay per view professional sporting/athletic contests. The purpose of the fee is to cover the costs associated with regulating any professional contest conducted live in the state. FCC Fee Fees collected annually by the FCC from cable operators to reimburse the FCC for administering its regulatory responsibilities under the Communications Act of 1934. FCC rules permit cable operators to recover the regulatory fees from cable subscribers in 12 monthly installments. Franchise Fee Franchise fees are paid to local governments as compensation for our 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. Public, Educational, Governmental Access Fee Public access, governmental access and educational access fees are for costs associated with local access channels required by the local cable franchise agreement.
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