This surcharge is assessed by Frontier on behalf of and under the authority of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. This is not a Frontier assessed surcharge; it is a pass-through expense remitted to the State of Wisconsin. The Universal Service Fund (USF) provides funding that helps Wisconsin residents get essential and advanced telecommunications services. The USF funds a number of programs and grants to meet these goals including:

• Lifeline which reduces the price of essential telecommunications service for low-income customers.
• The Broadband Grants Programs which helps get broadband service to all parts of Wisconsin and are partly funded by the USF.
• The Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program (TEPP) that helps disabled customers get the special equipment they need to use telecommunications services.