What is the Wisconsin Universal Service Fund (USF) surcharge?

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.