Phone bills, whether for mobile or landline service, seem to keep getting more expensive every year. Why do costs keep going up, and is there anything consumers can do about it? This article will break down the factors behind rising phone bills and provide tips to keep costs in check.
The Main Contributors to High Phone Bills
Several key factors explain the upward trend in phone bill costs:
1. Taxes and Government Fees
Taxes and fees imposed by federal, state, and local governments make up a significant portion of your monthly phone bill. These charges include:
- 911 Fees – To fund 911 call centers and services.
- Federal Universal Service Fund – To support telecom services in rural areas, schools, libraries, etc.
- State and Local Taxes – Various state and local telecom taxes.
- Regulatory Charges – To cover carriers’ costs of complying with regulations.
On a typical wireless bill, taxes and fees can account for 15-30% of the total. As governments look to make up revenue in other areas, phone bills have increasingly become a target for new or higher taxes and fees.
2. Network and Infrastructure Costs
As carriers build out 5G networks and other infrastructure improvements, they pass some of these costs along to consumers through higher monthly service charges. Upgrading networks requires massive capital expenditures, so this gets built into the pricing models.
3. Limited Competition
The telecom industry has become increasingly consolidated, with just a handful of major wireless carriers controlling most of the market. Less competition typically means higher prices for consumers. Changing carriers isn’t always a straightforward option either, due to service contracts and device financing plans.
4. Bundling of Services
Unlike some foreign carriers that offer inclusive service bundles, U.S. providers typically charge separately for talk, text, and data. This unbundling enables carriers to tack on multiple fees that quickly add up. International plans are also usually far more inclusive at comparable price points.
5. High-Priced Data Plans
Data usage has exploded in the smartphone era. American carriers have capitalized on this demand by charging a premium for data service relative to other countries. Comparing a median U.S. wireless plan to a similar international plan shows costs for data here are considerably steeper.
6. Device Subsidies
While upfront device prices in the U.S. seem competitive, carriers build hidden device subsidies into plan pricing through contracts and installment plans. You end up paying much more overall compared to bringing your own device or buying unlocked.
Ways for Consumers to Reduce Phone Bill Costs
With all these factors putting upward pressure on prices, what can you do to lower your phone bill? Here are some tips:
- Review plan usage and features – Drop unneeded services to right-size your plan.
- Avoid financing phones through carriers – Buy unlocked or bring your own device.
- Negotiate/renegotiate with carriers – Actively negotiate for better rates.
- Leverage promotions and new customer deals – Switch carriers to get intro offers.
- Use WiFi calling/messaging when possible – To reduce cellular data usage.
- Enable auto-pay and paperless billing – For typical discounts of $5-10 per month.
- Purchase annual plans – Prepaid annual plans offer lower monthly rates.
- Consider family/group plans – Shared plans can cut per-line costs.
- Use data compression apps – Apps like Opera’s data compression browser optimize data usage.
- Limit video streaming quality – Video consumes heavy data, so limit resolution and streaming.
- Use cash-back services – Get some costs back through cash-back apps and sites.
The Outlook for Phone Bills
While phone bills seem destined to keep rising over time, being a savvy consumer can help slow the bleed. Carefully manage your plan, negotiate regularly with carriers to get the best deals, and optimize data usage. Also support government efforts to increase competition in the telecom industry, which will ultimately lead to lower prices. With some diligence, you can find ways to cut your phone bill substantially.