TELECOMMUNICATION SURCHARGES

SB 372 changes New Mexico's telecommunications relay service surcharge from a small percentage of bills to a flat $0.51 fee per bill. It directly affects customers paying for intrastate phone services, including mobile plans used primarily in New Mexico, local landlines, and interconnected VoIP services. The bill replaces the previous percentage-based charge with a fixed amount, collected by providers and remitted monthly to the state. All surcharge revenue will fund the Telecommunications Access Fund, which supports relay services for people with disabilities.