Access charge

In telecommunication, an access charge is a charge made by a local exchange carrier for use of its local exchange facilities[?] for a purpose such as the origination or termination of traffic that is carried to or from a distant exchange by an interexchange carrier.

Note: Although some access charges are billed directly to local end users, a very large part of all access charges is paid by interexchange carriers.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C