Verizon's Regulatory Charge rises from $0.21 to $0.26 per voice line on November 1, 2026
Verizon's monthly Regulatory Charge for voice-capable devices goes from $0.21 to $0.26 per line on November 1, 2026, according to Verizon's surcharges support page as read on October 11, 2026. Verizon's larger per-line surcharge, the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge, is $3.78 per voice line and $3.97 per data-only line, with no change listed on the Verizon pages we read. Together the two flat charges come to $4.04 per voice line a month from November 1, up from $3.99.
- Regulatory Charge, voice-capable line
- $0.21 per line per month; $0.26 from November 1, 2026
- Regulatory Charge, data-only line
- $0.02 per line per month (no change listed)
- Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge
- $3.78 per voice line; $3.97 per data-only line
- Both flat charges, voice line
- $3.99 before November 1; $4.04 from November 1
- Federal Universal Service Charge
- 42% of the interstate and international telecom charges; varies quarterly
- Who sets them
- Verizon; Verizon says they are not taxes
Figures above were read from Verizon's support pages "Government taxes and fees and Verizon mobile surcharges" and "Important Plan Information" on 2026-10-11. The totals are our arithmetic. See sources.
The November 1, 2026 change
Verizon's surcharges page says: "Effective November 1, 2026, the monthly Verizon Wireless Regulatory Charge for voice-capable devices will increase from $0.21 to $0.26 per line."
Verizon's Important Plan Information page, which gives its figures "As of October 1, 2026", lists the same change: "Regulatory Charge ($0.21 per voice line (Increases to $0.26 effective Nov 1, 2026), $0.02 per data-only line)". The same page lists the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge with no change.
| Charge and line type | Before Nov 1, 2026 | From Nov 1, 2026 | Change per month | Change per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Charge, voice-capable line | $0.21 | $0.26 | +$0.05 | +$0.60 |
| Regulatory Charge, data-only line | $0.02 | $0.02 | None listed | None listed |
| Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge, voice line | $3.78 | $3.78 | None listed | None listed |
| Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge, data-only line | $3.97 | $3.97 | None listed | None listed |
| Both flat charges, voice line | $3.99 | $4.04 | +$0.05 | +$0.60 |
| Both flat charges, data-only line | $3.99 | $3.99 | None listed | None listed |
What each Verizon surcharge is for
Verizon groups three charges as Verizon mobile surcharges. Its surcharges page says: "Please note that these surcharges are Verizon charges, not taxes or government imposed fees."
| Surcharge | What Verizon says it covers | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Charge | Government charges Verizon pays, "including government number administration and license fees" | $0.21 per voice line ($0.26 from Nov 1, 2026); $0.02 per data-only line |
| Federal Universal Service Charge (and a State Universal Service Charge where applicable) | Charges the government imposes on Verizon to support universal service | 42% of the interstate and international telecom charges; varies quarterly with the FCC rate |
| Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge | Costs of regulatory and industry obligations such as E911, wireless local number portability and wireless tower mandates; property taxes; network costs, including leases, operations, maintenance and protection, and payments to other companies for network services | $3.78 per voice line; $3.97 per data-only line |
On the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge, Verizon's FAQ adds: "This is a Verizon wireless charge and is retained by Verizon." It also says: "The Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge is applied to each line on the account." And on its history: "The Administrative Charge, an existing bill charge, was renamed the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge effective 6/3/22."
The Important Plan Information page says taxes, other governmental charges and Verizon surcharges together "can add between 15% and 56% to your standard monthly access and other charges", as of October 1, 2026. On that page, the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge is higher on a data-only line ($3.97) than on a voice line ($3.78).
What the two flat charges add up to for 1 to 5 voice lines
| Voice lines | Regulatory Charge per month, before and from Nov 1 | Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge per month | Both per month from Nov 1 | Both per year at Nov 1 rates | Extra per year from the Nov 1 change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.21 to $0.26 | $3.78 | $4.04 | $48.48 | $0.60 |
| 2 | $0.42 to $0.52 | $7.56 | $8.08 | $96.96 | $1.20 |
| 3 | $0.63 to $0.78 | $11.34 | $12.12 | $145.44 | $1.80 |
| 4 | $0.84 to $1.04 | $15.12 | $16.16 | $193.92 | $2.40 |
| 5 | $1.05 to $1.30 | $18.90 | $20.20 | $242.40 | $3.00 |
Where these charges do not apply or are already in the price
- Verizon Home Internet (Wireless): the Important Plan Information page says it is not subject to these charges.
- Verizon One: the same page also leaves out service on a "Verizon One plan or Simplicity plan added to a Verizon One plan which includes these charges".
- Home internet and the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge: Verizon's FAQ says an increase to that charge applied to voice-capable and data-only devices, "except 5G Home Internet and LTE Home Internet". The FAQ does not date that increase.
- Business accounts: Verizon's surcharges page tells business customers to review their agreement or contact their Verizon business representative about these charges.
Earlier changes to Verizon's per-line surcharges
| Date | Change | How we confirmed it |
|---|---|---|
| June 3, 2022 | The Administrative Charge was renamed the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge | Verizon surcharges page FAQ, read 2026-10-11 |
| December 18, 2024 | Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge up $0.20 per line for mobile voice and data-only products; reported as $3.30 to $3.50 per voice line and $1.40 to $1.60 per data line | Reported by Tom's Guide on December 6, 2024: the date and the $0.20 come from a Verizon spokesperson's statement quoted there; the before and after amounts come from a customer's post |
| September 2025 (day not confirmed) | Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge reported as $3.50 to $3.78 per voice line and $1.60 to $3.97 per data-only line; Regulatory Charge reported as $0.19 to $0.21 | Reported by Tom's Guide on August 1, 2025, from a customer's post; a Verizon spokesperson told the outlet that fee adjustments would start in September. The new amounts match Verizon's current page. |
| November 1, 2026 | Regulatory Charge $0.21 to $0.26 per voice-capable line | Verizon surcharges page and Important Plan Information page, read 2026-10-11 |
What we could not confirm
- The exact day of the 2025 changes to the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge and the Regulatory Charge. The Verizon pages we read give current amounts but no date for those changes.
- Verizon's own record of the amounts before and after December 18, 2024. The current Verizon pages do not list past amounts, and the Internet Archive refused our requests as automated traffic.
- The FCC's current quarterly contribution factor. The FCC page refused our request (HTTP 403); Verizon's page states 42%.
- Whether smartwatch lines are billed at the voice-capable or the data-only Regulatory Charge. Verizon's pages use "voice-capable" and "data-only" without naming watches.
- How and when Verizon is notifying customers of the November 1 change. We did not find a Verizon notice page beyond the surcharges page.
Questions
When does the Verizon Regulatory Charge go up?
What is the Verizon Regulatory Charge?
How much is Verizon's Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge?
Are Verizon's surcharges taxes?
Does Verizon's price lock cover these charges?
Sources
- November 1, 2026 change, surcharge descriptions, FAQ - Verizon Support: Government taxes and fees and Verizon mobile surcharges, read 2026-10-11
- Amounts as of October 1, 2026, exclusions, 15% to 56% range - Verizon Support: Important Plan Information, read 2026-10-11
- 3-year price lock terms, April 3, 2025 - Verizon News Center, read 2026-10-11
- Reported by Tom's Guide, December 6, 2024 (December 18, 2024 change) - Tom's Guide, read 2026-10-11
- Reported by Tom's Guide, August 1, 2025 (September 2025 changes) - Tom's Guide, read 2026-10-11
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