In an effort to update outdated regulations and bring rules applicable to in-state long distance calls closer to rules that apply to out-of-state calls, the Alaska Universal Service Fund (AUSF) surcharge you see on your bill will increase to a rate of 9.3% of your total bill.

These changes are the result of new regulations adopted by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska and supported by the telecommunications industry.

While the AUSF rate increases, this change intends to bring additional transparency and eliminate hidden charges that long distance customers and service providers previously paid to local phone companies in order to help cover the costs of connecting customers within Alaska. Those costs will now be covered by this fund. The AUSF fee increase applies to all Alaska telephone service providers, including wireless providers.

Shifting payment of these costs helps ensure that the in-state long distance network remains reliable and increasingly capable of providing the services consumers want and need. In addition, this allows AT&T to reduce long distance rates for in-state calls on many of its long distance plans so that customers will no longer have to pay more to call friends and family in Alaska than they do to call friends and family that are out of state. Rate reductions will vary according to which long distance service plan you subscribe.

For more information, please contact our Customer Care center at 1.800.252.7266, prompt 4. Note that our hours of operation have changed to 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.