T-Mobile's Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee is going up. | Image Credit - Reddit user Old-Computer-5273
T-Mobile has begun notifying customers that the surcharge will increase by $0.50 per line for voice and data lines. The changes will take effect on January 21.
The changes will only affect customers who signed up for the taxes-and-fees-exclusive plans. Customers on older all-inclusive plans will see no changes in their rates.
The Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee isn't a government-mandated fee. Instead, T-Mobile leverages the charges to recoup costs related to regulatory compliance and interconnection charges imposed by other carriers.
Currently, the fee sits at $3.99 per voice line and $1.60 per mobile internet line; these will rise to $4.49 and $2.10, respectively.
T-Mobilelast increased the fee in April, so it hasn't even been a year since the last hike. Naturally, customers are up in arms about the increase.
A lawsuit wasn't enough to get T-Mobile to back off
T-Mobile was sued in December 2024 by complainants who said the Regulatory Programs & Telco Recovery Fee was deceptive and unjustified. This did not deter the company, which noted that such charges were common across the wireless industry.
Recommended For You
While a $0.50 hike may seem insignificant, the fee has been raised multiple times since its introduction in 2004. Because it's levied on a per-line basis, the costs can add up quickly for families.
Are you tempted to leave T-Mobile after the latest hike?
Yes.
67.88%
No.
15.81%
Another move like this would be the last straw for me.
16.31%
The irony
Earlier today, T-Mobile announced a new plan that claims to offer more value than the carrier's other plans. The company also took a dig at AT&T and Verizon for charging more for less.
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: