System access fee
The System access fee is a highly controversial non-governmental surcharge imposed by most Canadian telephone companies on their customers’ monthly bills [1]. Although it is normally charged for wireless services, Rogers Communications also charges its home phone customers a System Access Fee. It normally amounts to $6.95/month (although Bell Mobility charges a System Access Fee of $8.95/month [2] and the System Access Fee on Rogers Home Phone Services is $5.95/month [3]). For example, if a wireless plan has been advertised at $20/month, the customer subscribing to it would actually be paying an unadvertised rate of at least $26.95/month, excluding other fees and government taxes. The Canadian Government has required Canadian cellular carriers to make it clear that the SAF is not required for any regulatory or government purpose. As a result the carriers claim that the system access fee covers network operation and maintenance costs.
