Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Universal Service Fund?
The Federal Universal Service Fund (or USF) was created by the federal government to help ensure affordable telecommunications service for all consumers across the country, especially low-income customers and those in high-cost rural communities. It also provides for discounted telecommunications services for schools, libraries and rural healthcare facilities. All telecommunications providers are required to pay into the USF, and these required contributions may be recovered from their customers. The federal government revises the amount that telecommunications companies like Outfitter Satellite are required to pay into the USF each quarter; so the amount we recover from our customers is adjusted from time to time.

Outfitter Satellite works hard to provide our customers with low-cost and high-quality service. Rather than attempt to include the potentially variable costs associated with USF into our published prices for our communication services, Outfitter Satellite uses a separate line item on invoices. This line item is not a tax or charge required by the government but a discretionary charge applied to the communication services which Outfitter Satellite is permitted to assess in order to help us recover our contribution to the USF fund as described in the terms and conditions of the Service Agreement.

2. What is the Cost Recovery Fee?
The Cost Recovery Fee (CRF) is not a tax, nor is it mandated by any level of government or governmental agency. The CRF is a discretionary charge applied to sales of both goods and services that Outfitter Satellite is permitted to assess our customers to help recover part of the costs and expenses that Outfitter Satellite incurs in connection with complying with legal, regulatory, and other requirements, including without limitation, federal, state, and local reporting and filing requirements; responding to subpoenas, civil investigations demands and other official requests, and otherwise assisting with official investigations; reporting and managing payments to third party telecommunications providers; and acquiring and protecting intellectual property, including without limitation, through the filing and maintenance of patents, trademarks, and other proprietary rights. The amount charged for CRF is subject to change from time to time.