Telephone Assistance Program (TAP) Surcharge

This surcharge is used to support the Telephone Assistance Program (TAP), which reduces the monthly cost of a residential phone line for income-eligible customers who need such assistance. TAP also includes Link-Up (credit towards the connection cost), which reduces the cost of installing a customer's main phone line by 50 percent and provides a deferred payment schedule for additional installation charges.

This is a flat rate per access line. All telecommunications carriers that provide interstate telecommunications services contribute on an equitable and non-discriminatory basis to this fund.