Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: david@cs.uow.edu.au (David E A Wilson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Questions About Local Service and Long Distance Rates
Message-ID: <9999@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 22 Jul 90 05:20:48 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 505, Message 5 of 7


noao!xroads!bakerj%mcdphx.UUCP@ncar.ucar.edu (Jon Baker) writes:

>The first question regards the exhorbitant 'hook-up' fee.  Although
>establishing service may involve only a few data-entry operators, the
>cost to lay wire to your residence is factored in there also.  Even if
>it's an existing residence, they need to average the cost out over all
>new customers to avoid socking new home owners with a multi-hundred $
>bill.

Here in Australia that is exactly how it is done. Back in 1982 the
costs were:

Providing new service: $150 or $15 if only exchange work is needed.
(Handset and line still in place.)

Moving service to new address: $75 or $15 (as above).

By 1985 it had risen to $190/$30 and $110/$30 and in 1989 it 
was $225/$45. (No figure for moving.)

Even though I had to pay the $225 I still think this reflection of the
costs seems fairer.


David Wilson	david@wraith.cs.uow.edu.au