Customers of Blue Casa are responsible for taxes and surcharges for their service as set by the government. In most cases the amounts are equal to or less than the amounts paid to your old phone company. Our goal is to minimize charges whenever possible, while ensuring compliance with the regulations that govern commerce and our industry. Below is a listing of the taxes and surcharges and the basis by which these are calculated:

Click here for help understanding your bill. You can also call us at 1-866-566-BLUE if ever you have a billing query.

Click here to understand your first bill. The first bill you receive will include a partial period from the date service started until the date the first bill is issued together with the monthly fee for the first full month of service.


If you chose to terminate service in the middle of a billing period, you will receive a repayment of the prorated pre-paid amount.

We will make every effort to resolve any billing questions that may arise but if an issue remains unresolved you have the right to present your case to the Public Utilities Commission, State of California, State Office Building, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102. In such instances you should deposit the disputed amount with the PUC, attach the bill and a statement supporting your claim why the bill is not correct. The Commission will review the basis of the disputed amount and make disbursement in accordance with its findings.

The FCC is responsible for the overall supervision and control of the telecommunications industry and correspondence may be directed to: Informal Complaints and Public Inquiries Branch, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.

You may call the FCC directly at 1-888-225-5322.

The Federal Excise Tax is mandated by the federal government and imposed on all local and long distance telecommunications services.

The FUSF helps to make basic telephone services available to all Americans, including those with low incomes or those living in rural areas where service is very costly to provide. The Fund provides discounted telecommunications, Internet access, and internal connections to schools, libraries and rural health care providers. All telecommunications companies providing service between states must contribute to the Universal Service Fund. This surcharge is assessed on monthly long distance plans, Interstate and International calls and the Subscriber Line Charge.

A fee, regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, that compensates local telephone companies for the cost of connecting individual phone lines to the interstate long distance network.

The FCC allows local phone companies to recover the costs for providing number portability to residential customers.

Surcharge levied by the California Public Utilities Commission to fund its regulatory activities.

Provides the Dept. of General Services with funding for the installation and maintenance of the 911 emergency telephone number system.

Surcharges levied by the CA PUC to subsidize the basic rates for local telephone companies servicing rural areas and compensates carriers for providing basic residential service in areas where the cost exceeds the CPUC determined statewide average. CHCF - A is levied at 0.21% on local phone charges. CHCF - B is levied at 2.7% on local and long distance charges.

Collectively known at the Deaf and Disabled Telecom Program, the CPUC implemented three programs for California residents who are deaf, hearing impaired and/or disabled. The fee is charged on local phone charges.

Santa Barbara City charges a utilities services tax (Gas, Electricity, Cable, Water, Trash etc) including phone service - the rate is applied to Intrastate usage.