PORTLAND (AP) — The Oregon Public Utility Commission says telephone and cellular customers will see a slight increase in a state surcharge on phone bills.

Starting New Year’s Day, the Residential Service Protection Fund surcharge will increase from 5 cents to 9 cents per line.

The surcharge funds three programs to help low-income and disabled residents. One of them lends adaptive telephone equipment at no charge to Oregonians who have hearing loss or a speech impairment.