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Subscriber Line Charges

Subscriber Line Charges (SLC) are billed to the user by the LEC on a monthly basis. They are flat-rate, recurring charges which generally vary by type of facility (residence line, business line, PBX trunk, and FX line). They may be billed by channel, as has been proposed by the FCC for ISDN loops. The SLC applies to all users of LEC loops, whether or not they use the LEC network for IXC access.

Carrier Access Charges

Carrier Access Charges are billed by the LEC to the IXC in two forms. First, flat-rate, recurring charges apply for Tandem Exchange termination. Second, Carrier Common Line Charge (CCLC) is a minutes-of-use charge which applies to each call connected to the IXC.

As a result of the relandscaping of the telecommunications environment under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC will reconsider the levels of all access charges no later than May 1997. AT&T and a number of other carriers suggest that the SLC should double and that the CCLC should be eliminated. For example, AT&T suggests that the SLC for residential single line circuits should increase from $3.50 to $7 per month, and from $6 to $12 for business multiline circuits (KTS business lines). Regardless of the level of increase in the SLC, it will make basic service more expensive, perhaps making it unaffordable for some. To the extent that the SLC is increased and the CCLC is decreased, overall benefit will be realized by large business users which are long distance-intensive [6-23] and [6-24].

References

[6-1] 1996 MultiMedia Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. Washington D.C.: MultiMedia Telecommunications Association. 1996.
[6-2] Brooks, John. Telephone: The First Hundred Years. NY: Harper & Row, 1976.
[6-3] Engineering and Operations in the Bell System. NJ: Bell Laboratories. 1977.
[6-4] Greene, Tim. “Bells Bond to Spread the Word on New Area Codes.” Network World, May 20. 1996.
[6-5] Potter, David C. “Cracking the NANP Code.” Telecommunications. October 1995.
[6-6] Potter, David C. “Surviving the North American Numbering Plan.” TeleProfessional. March 1996.
[6-7] Toth, Victor J. “Winners and Losers in FCC’s New NANP System.” Business Communications Review. October 1995.
[6-8] Toth, Victor J. “Preparing for a New Universe of Toll-Free Numbers.” Business Communications Review. November 1995.
[6-9] Greene, Tim. “Phone Numbers Are Running Out.” Network World, May 20. 1996.
[6-10] Rohde, David. “Those #$ (&%*!% Area Codes.” Network World. September 18, 1996.
[6-11] Tunstall, W. Brooke. Disconnecting Parties. NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1985.
[6-12] Elbert, Bruce R. Private Telecommunication Networks. Norwood MA: Artech House. 1989.
[6-13] Hills, Michael T. “Long-Distance Pricing 1996—Yikes!” Business Communications Review, May 1996.
[6-14] Bodin, Madeline. “You Should Be Worried.” Call Center. September 1995.
[6-15] Rohde, David. “Bitter Pill: 800 Numbers Rationed.” Network World. June 19, 1995.
[6-16] Harder, Jerry. “The Brave New World of Toll-Free Service.” Business Communications Review. February 1995.
[6-17] Rohde, David. “Need an 800 Number? Hurry Up, Supply’s Low.” Network World. January 9, 1995.
[6-18] Rebber, Roger. “Parade of Carrier Options.” Call Center. February 1996.
[6-19] Taff, Anita. “Follow-Me Phoning.” Mobile Office. November 1995.
[6-20] Greene, Tim and Wexler, Joanie. “Follow-Me Phone Numbers Available.” Network World. February 15, 1995.
[6-21] Seybold, Andrew M. “Follow-Me Phone Numbers.” Mobile Office. August 1995.
[6-22] Toth, Victor J. “The FCC’s Complex Plans for Local Number Portability.” Business Communications Review. September 1995.
[6-23] Rohde, David. “Subscriber Line Charge Headed Up.” Network World. May 20, 1996.
[6-24] Rodger, Will. “Are Bells Inflating Telephone Rates?” Inter@ctive Week. May 20, 1996.

General References

1996 MultiMedia Telecommunications Market Review and Forecast. Washington D.C: MultiMedia Telecommunications Association. 1996.
Elbert, Bruce R. Private Telecommunication Networks. Norwood, MA: Artech House. 1989.
Engineering and Operations in the Bell System. NJ: Bell Laboratories. 1977.
Gasman, Lawrence. Manager’s Guide to the New Telecommunications Network. Norwood, MA: Artech House. 1988.
Introduction to Telecommunications. Phoenix, AZ: AG Communications Systems. 1990.
Keen, Peter G.W. and Cummins, J. Michael. Networks in Action. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. 1994.
Sexton, Mike and Reid, Andy. Transmission Networking: SONET and the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy. Norwood, MA: Artech House. 1992.
Sherman, Kenneth. Data Communications: A Users Guide. Reston. 1981.


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