Short Take: AT&T to charge 93 cents per month for universal service

AT&T in July will begin charging customers a 93-cent monthly fee to pay for the universal service fund, which will in part pay for the wiring of America's schools. The company chose the rate instead of a 5 percent fee because the rate charge is "predictable and simpler to understand." Business customers will still pay a flat fee; their charges will drop from 0.8 percent.