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Have a question or need help, check out these links below. If you do not find a link for your specific need, please contact us by phone at 309-778-8611 or send an e-mail to info@midcentury.com and we will be happy to assist you.
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Understanding Your Bill
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Assistance Programs
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TTY - Illinois Relay 711 - Provides communication assistance for the hearing impaired
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Do Not Call Registry - Avoid unwanted telemarketing calls through the National Registry
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Troubleshooting a Problem - Eliminate unwanted repair charges by troubleshooting first
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Understanding Your Bill
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The charges on your telephone bill fall into several categories:
Fixed Charges:
Mandatory recurring charges and taxes you must pay to be connected to the network. Local telephone charges are itemized and billed one month in advance.
Usage charges:
Century Enterprises, Inc (CEI), charges will appear on your MCTC statement for individual toll calls and directory assistance calls. If you have a toll provider other than CEI you will receive a separate bill from that provider detailing your toll usage. Charges are billed one month in arrears and rates will vary depending on the number of toll calls you make, the duration of the call and if you subscribe to a calling plan.
Other Services:
Included in this category are recurring monthly fees for non-published telephone numbers, additional directory listings, instrument leases, inside wire maintenance, and voluntary contributions to telephone assistance programs. Optional services such as MCTV Digital Television, High Speed Internet/DSL and calling features are also listed in this classification. Prices vary by product.
Other Charges and Credits:
These may be recurring or one time charges that can include fees for products. Also included in this category are late payment fees. In addition, any action that requires a service order to be processed will generate a prorated charge or credit in this category. Examples of these activities are new installations and partial charges (or credits) for services initiated (or discontinued) in the middle of a billing period.
Definitions:
Residential Rate or Business Rate:
This is a mandatory recurring fixed monthly charge to receive a dial tone. The service entitles business or residential subscribers to basic local exchange telephone service and local calls.
FCC Interstate Access Single / Multi:
This is a mandatory recurring fixed monthly charge. Local telephone companies must contribute to the upkeep and operation of the equipment necessary to connect individual phone lines to the interstate long distance network. A portion of the out-of-state expense incurred is recovered through this charge (also known as the Federal Subscriber Line Charge), which is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Intrastate Access Charge:
This is a mandatory recurring fixed monthly charge. A portion of the in-state expense associated with maintaining facilities to connect with the long distance network are recovered by assessing this charge, which is regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
Emergency 911 Surcharge:
The emergency response system in each county is subsidized by this surcharge which varies from county to county and is mandatory when the 911 referendum is approved regardless if 911 services are currently available.
Illinois Telecom Relay Service & Equipment:
A mandatory state surcharge (per telephone line) used to fund relay centers and special equipment that assist hearing and speech impaired persons to communicate over the telecom network.
Federal Universal Service Charge (percentage varies and can change quarterly):
This represents a mandatory surcharge on the interstate portion of a subscriber bill to support universal telephone service. The FUSC fund assists with the cost of providing affordable telecommunication services to schools, libraries, low-income individuals and residents in rural high-cost areas
Illinois Universal Service Charge
In addition to the federal programs, some states collect fees to support their own universal service programs. Like other telecom providers in Illinois (IL), we collect fees for the IL Universal Service Fund that is administered by the (IL PUC). The IUSC fund supports universal service programs within Illinois. Most, if not all, telecom providers in the state contribute to the fund to help keep basic local rates affordable for everyone in the state.
Federal Taxes (FED) (3%):
The Federal Excise Tax is imposed by the federal government (not the FCC) which applies to all local charges and is remitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
State Tax (7% Illinois):
The Illinois Telecommunications Excise Tax is assessed by the state of Illinois on all telecommunications services.
Public Utility Tax (ADTL) (.1%):
The proceeds from the Illinois Public Utility Tax fund the work of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). This tax is assessed on all regulated utility bills.
State Infrastructure Tax (TIMF TAX) (.5%):
All telecommunications carriers are required to collect infrastructure maintenance fees. The state fee is paid into the personal property tax replacement fund in the state treasury. By law, monies in this fund are dedicated to local government uses.
Supplemental Municipality Telecommunications Tax (SMTT Tax) (1%) (Applicable in 358 exchange only):
A fixed and mandatory charge imposed by Yates City for 1.0% of all gross charges to service addresses within the village limits. It does not apply to service addresses outside of the village boundaries. The ordinance directs telecommunications providers to charge and collect the tax via end-user billing.
Extended Area Service (Applicable in 484, 927 & 995 exchanges only):
A fixed and mandatory charge in applicable exchanges. EAS enlarges the local calling area to include exchanges that under pre-EAS agreements were considered long distance calls.
Video Franchise Fees (percentage can vary by county):
A franchise fee is billed on the program package, premium channels and additional streams and is applicable to un-incorporated (rural) video subscribers in the counties served by video. Currently, subscribers who reside within an incorporated (urban) area are not subject to the franchise fee. The franchise fee is mandated by the appropriate county. Contact information is printed on the bill should a customer have questions or concerns.
May 2009
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Assistance Programs
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Lifeline is a government program that offers qualified low income households a discount on their monthly local telephone bill. Each state has its own guidelines to qualify. The application and qualification process differs by state and sometimes by individual phone company.
Link Up helps households reduce the cost of initiating telephone service. This program pays some of the cost of connecting local telephone service to your home or activating wireless phone service. However, Link Up does not cover the cost of wiring inside your home.
For more local program information and eligibility guidelines you can either contact us at 309-778-8611 or send an e-mail to info@midcentury.com or Lifeline Link Up.
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The Digital Divide Elimination Fund is a special fund created by the Illinois Commerce Commission to help equip Illinois schools, libraries, park districts and other community technology centers to provide access to computers and training for youths and other low income residents meeting tomorrow’s challenges.
Customers wishing to participate in the program to foster the elimination of the Digital Divide may do so by electing to contribute, on a monthly basis, a fixed amount of $.50, $1.00, $2.00, $5.00, $10.00, $15.00, $25.00 that will be included in the customer’s monthly bill. The customer may cease contributing at any time upon providing at least 30 days notice by phone 309-778-8611, 1-877-643-2368 or mail to Mid Century Telephone Co-operative, PO Box 380, Fairview, IL 61432. Any contribution made will not reduce the customer’s bill for telecommunication services and failure to remit the amount of increased payment will reduce the contribution accordingly.
One time contributions are also welcome. Please send to:
DCEO
Digital Divide Eliminate Fund
Accounting Office
620 East Adams St
Springfield, IL 62701
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Illinois Relay Service - Dial 711 - Your link with the hearing impaired
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What is it?
Illinois Relay Service is a 24 hour, seven day a week service provided by Mid Century Telephone Co-operative in cooperation with the Illinois Telecommunications Access Corporation (ITAC). The service is a communications link between those who use a Text Telephone (TTY) and those who use a standard voice telephone. TTY’s are special typewriter-style devices used by persons who are hard of hearing, deaf or voice-impaired to communicate over the telephone.
How does it work?
Specially trained operators relay conversations between TTY users and hearing people who use a standard voice telephone. The relay operator types the hearing caller’s spoken words to the TTY caller. The operator then speaks the typed words received from the TTY caller to the hearing person. The operator acts as a go-between throughout the entire conversation.
All calls made through the Relay Center are kept strictly confidential, no record is kept, other than for billing purposes.
A special feature, known as “voice carry over” makes it possible for a deaf or hard of hearing caller with good speech skills to talk directly to the hearing caller. With this feature, the relay operator types only the hearing caller’s voice response back to the TTY caller.
How do you use the service?
Callers can contact the Illinois Relay Center, located in Chicago, by dialing a toll free number or 711:
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TTY Only
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Dial 711 or 1-800-526-0844
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Voice
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Dial 711 or 1-800-526-0857
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Spanish TTY Only
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Dial 711 or 1-800-501-0864
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Telebraille Users
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Dial 711 or 1-877-526-6670
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ASCII Users
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Dial 711 or 1-877-526-6680
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Speech-to-Speech
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Dial 711 or 1-877-526-6690
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VCO Users
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Dial 711 or 1-877-826-1130
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Who do I call in an Emergency?
Relay operators DO NOT have access to 911 emergency centers. TTY users should dial their local TTY emergency numbers directly. If during an emergency the TTY caller provides a phone number that can be directly dialed, the relay operator will attempt to complete this call.
How are calls billed?
Calls completed through the Relay Center are billed at regular telephone company rates. There are NO extra charges. Billing options include direct, collect, calling card, third number and person to person calls. For example, a person in Springfield calls a friend in Carbondale using the Relay Center. The person will not be billed for the call from Springfield to the Relay Center in Chicago, or for the call from the Relay Center to Carbondale. The caller will only be billed for a direct call from Springfield to Carbondale.
Are other services available?
ITAC also distributes TTYs at no charge to qualified Illinois residents. For more information on the TTY Loan Distribution Program, or the Telecommunications Relay Service, write to:
ITAC, 3001 Montvale Drive, Suite D, Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: Voice or TTY - 1-800-841-6167; Fax: 1-217-698-0942; Website: www.itactty.org
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Customers may register their residential telephone number, and wireless number, on the National Do-Not-Call Registry by phone or Internet at no cost. Registration does not expire.
To Register by phone (you must call from the number you wish to register):
Voice 1-888-382-1222 TTY 1-866-290-4236
To Register by Internet: www.donotcall.gov
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Mid Century Telephone
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Mid Century Telephone Co-operative offers 24 hour, 7 days per week repair service. To report a trouble from an MCTC exchange, please call 611. If you need to report the trouble from your cellular phone or an exchange outside our area, please call toll free 1-800-365-0525. These numbers are for trouble/repair only and you will always reach a person.
Help us help you by reporting your trouble/repair early in the day.
If you need to call for any other business such as billing or service ordering, please call our business office at 309-778-8611 or send an e-mail to info@midcentury.com. The Fairview business office hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Do You Have A Cordless Phone?
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Cordless phones have become very popular due to their convenience and portability. On the down side, they will not work during a power outage. Consequently, if you have only cordless phones on your premises, you will be without telephone service if there is a power outage. A cordless telephone is a radio transmitter and needs electric power to function properly. A standard touchtone corded telephone does not require AC power to function and will continue to operate even when the electric service is disrupted. Make sure that friends and family keep a touchtone corded phone too, so you will be able to keep in touch with them.
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Try These Simple Steps Before Contacting Repair - It Could Save You Money!
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If you pick up your phone to make a call and find there is no dial tone, there are some steps you should take prior to contacting repair service.
First of all determine whether all of your phones are experiencing the problem or if just the one phone is faulty.
If you find only the one phone is not working change it out with a known working phone and if dial tone returns you know that phone needs replaced. If there still is no dial tone then the problem is probably in the wiring or jack. If you have inside wire maintenance contact our repair department at 611, if you do not have inside wire maintenance you would be billed for a repair visit plus time and material, or you can fix the problem yourself.
If you find all of your phones have no dial tone, check that all are hung up properly (including outlying structures) and connections are secure. If you have a cordless phone or an answering machine disconnect them from the phone jack and check for dial tone on your corded phones after about one minute. If dial tone returns the problem is in the corded phone and/or the answering machine. Damaged answering machines and cordless phones are frequently the culprits for no dial tone and/or an annoying buzz on your line. If there is still no dial tone the problem could be in the wiring or in our equipment. To test whether the problem is inside or out follow the instructions in the illustration below.
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Mid Century High Speed Internet
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BEFORE YOU CALL REPAIR, HAVE YOU tried troubleshooting your problem? Over 90% of the troubles reported, are in the Customers Premise Equipment. If you are experiencing trouble with your Mid Century High Speed Internet (MCHSI) we ask you take the following steps before calling repair to help make your repair experience less stressful.
If you are a MCHSI and MCTV subscriber and your television programming is still working, we ask that you;
- 1. Reset your router (if you have one) and check your internet connection, if bad:
- 2. Restart your computer and check connection, if bad:
- 3. Call Tech Support at 1-800-365-0525 or 611.
If you are a MCHSI only subscriber:
- 1. Check modem status lights:
Power This indicates power to modem is on
DSL or ADSL This indicates that the modem is connected to phone company equipment
Lan This indicates that your computer is connected to the modem, if the light is not illuminated, check connections to the computer.
If all lights are lit then proceed to step 2
- 2. Reset your router (if you have one) and check internet connection, if bad:
- 3. Restart your computer and check connection, if bad:
- 4. Call Tech Support 1-800-365-0525 or 611.
If you are a MCHSI and MCTV subscriber and neither service is working:
- 1. Call Tech Support 1-800-365-0525 or 611
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