What must a telephone bill include to comply with the FCC's Truth-in-Billing rules under 47 CFR 64.2401? Answer in under 100 words.
Details / How it works
Under § 64.2401, telephone bills must identify the service provider for each charge and, when multiple carriers appear, separate charges by provider. Third-party non-telecommunications charges must go in a distinct, separately subtotaled section. Every charge must have a brief, clear, non-misleading, plain-language description of the service rendered. Where basic local service is billed, the bill must distinguish charges whose non-payment causes disconnection from those that do not, clearly identifying the latter.
Numbers & thresholds
No dollar or percentage thresholds are set; the rule instead requires structural clarity. The key requirements are:
| Bill element | Required treatment |
|---|---|
| Service provider identification | Clearly and conspicuously identified for each charge |
| Multiple carrier charges | Separated (grouped) by provider |
| Third-party non-telecom charges | Distinct section, separately subtotaled; subtotals and bill total displayed on the payment page or equivalent electronic location |
| Description of charges | Brief, clear, non-misleading, plain-language |
| Disconnection risk | Distinguish basic-service charges subject to disconnection from others |
| Inquiry contact | Toll-free number (or e-mail/Web site for electronic-only bills) |
Exceptions & edge cases
'Clear and conspicuous' means notice that would be apparent to a reasonable consumer. For electronic bills, 'equivalent location' includes any location where the bill total is displayed, such as an email notification or an electronic link/notice on a website or payment portal. A carrier may list a third-party billing agent's toll-free number if that party has sufficient account information and is authorized to resolve complaints. Carriers that offer blocking of third-party charges must notify subscribers at the point of sale, on each carrier's website, and on each bill, and they may not place unauthorized charges ('cramming').
Sources
- [1]U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 47 CFR 64.2401 — Truth-in-Billing Requirements · as of 2026-08-26
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