mrseabreeze wrote:
Can you, however, provide a comparison between the two months ($42.90 
vs. $42.64) with how many long-distance minutes were used per month? 
This will provide an apple-vs.-apple comparison. Thanks. 

Here are my bills for comparison.

Summary: I had a few billed local calls (local long distance?) 
and a total of 3 long distance calls on my SBC/AT&T Bill
The TALK bill was a pre-bill without any calls, just base service.
Yet, my TALK bill was (slightly) higher than my old bill!
_______________________________________________________ 
SBC Local:

Total Monthly Service.................... 35.69
Total Local Calls........................  0.20
Itemized Calls...........................  0.42   

    (Local, State and Federal Charges)
9-1-1 Emergency System...................  0.12    
Number Portability Surcharge.............  0.28    
Federal Universal Service Fee............  0.53    
Total Local, State and Federal Charges...  0.93
_______________________________________________________ 
Taxes
Federal at 3%............................  1.00   
_______________________________________________________ 
Total SBC Local Services Charges......... 38.24
_______________________________________________________ 
AT&T Long Distance:

No. Code  Min  Amount 
1   D       1    0.30  (Day call billed @0.30/minute)
2   N       1    0.21  (Night call billed @0.21/minute)
3   N       5    1.05  (Night call billed @0.21/minute)
 
Total Long Distance Charges .............  1.56
_______________________________________________________ 
Other Charges and Credits:
Universal Connectivity Charge ........... 0.09 
Bill Statement Fee ...................... 1.50 
Regulatory assessment fee ............... 0.99 
Total Other Charges and Credits ......... 2.58
_______________________________________________________ 
(AT&T) Taxes:
Federal Tax @ 3% ........................ 0.08
Other Taxes ............................. 0.18
_______________________________________________________ 
Total AT&T Invoice Charges .............. 4.40
_____________________________________________________ 
Total SBC/AT&T Bill .................... 42.90
_______________________________________________________ 
TALK America Bill:
WorryFree Wire Maintenance Plan .........  4.75
United Unlimited Plan ................... 26.95
Total Calling Charges ................... 31.70
_____________________________________________________ 
Taxes and Other Charges
Sales Tax (State) ........................  2.35
Sales Tax (County) .......................  0.29  
Federal Excise Tax (Fed) .................  1.03
Common Line Charge .......................  5.39
TSR Administration .......................  1.25
Fed Telecommunications Relay Service (Fed)  0.01
Fed USF Combined High Cost and School (Fed) 0.60
Local Number Portability Surcharge .......  0.28
Total Taxes and Other Charges ............ 11.20

_____________________________________________________ 
Total TALK America Bill .................. 42.90