| 100% | VAS | 3 | What SMS, MMS and data access, now core services for cell phones, were considered a decade ago (abbr.) |
| 28% | TYCO | 4 | Toy manufacturer that is well known for its model trains and is now a part of Mattel: Abbr. |
| 26% | FEE | 3 | What you are charged for a service |
| 25% | UFO | 3 | What a weather balloon may be mistaken for: Abbr. |
| 25% | RBI | 3 | What a designated hitter is often trying for: Abbr. |
| 25% | GPA | 3 | What A's and B's are good for |
| 25% | UFO | 3 | What a drone or weather balloon might be mistaken for: Abbr. |
| 24% | GET | 3 | "Pay now and ___ access for a year" (subscription promo message) |
| 24% | ANNAT | 5 | A half year's stipend, over and above what is owing for the incumbency |
| 23% | NINE | 4 | Number that, in Chinese languages, is a homophone for "longevity," and is thus considered good luck |
| 23% | AOC | 3 | American politician and activist who is a US representative for NY's 14th congressional district: Abbr. |
| 22% | THENEWYORKER | 12 | Weekly periodical for which E.B. White was a writer and contributing editor for six decades (3 wds.) |
| 22% | SOCIALDISTANCING | 16 | Strategy for combatting a pandemic ... or what can be found in 18-, 25-, 31-, 49-, and 55-Across? |
| 22% | THEPSYCHICHATLINE | 17 | Phone service that gets a lot of "what am I wearing" calls? |
| 22% | SIDEHUSTLE | 10 | Extra job, and a hint to what each starred answer is for many (and literally is, in this puzzle) |
| 22% | TONGUETIED | 10 | At a loss for words, and what the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across can literally be? |
| 22% | FOURQUARTERS | 12 | Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 22% | IHOP | 4 | Popular breakfast chain in the USA that is known for flapjacks and has a smile on its logo: Abbr. |
| 22% | STAINEDINSTEAD | 14 | What was done to the back deck this time after the fiasco a few years ago with the paint and the raccoon? |
| 22% | DALMATIAN | 9 | A large, spotted dog that was once used as a dog of war and even now can be seen working for firefighters |
| 22% | WATERBREAK | 10 | Time for a drink at the gym... or what can literally be seen in 17-, 24-, 35- and 49-Across |
| 22% | BACKBURNER | 10 | Place for a nonurgent issue, and what can be found at the end of 16-, 24-, 37-, or 53- Across? |
| 21% | PARENS | 6 | What “(” and “)” are, for short |
| 21% | TWISTEDMIND | 11 | Trait for an evil genius ... and a hint to what can literally be found in 17-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 21% | IRA | 3 | What a Roth plan is: Abbr. |
| 21% | FEE | 3 | What you pay for a service |
| 21% | ADMISSION | 9 | What a ticket is good for |
| 21% | HIRE | 4 | What a limo may be for |
| 21% | TITLE | 5 | What 7a is for a book |
| 21% | TARGETAREA | 10 | What a fencer is aiming for |