Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihopb.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!petrus!sabre!zeta!epsilon!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihopb!suem
From: suem@ihopb.UUCP (Sue McKinnell)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Long Distance
Message-ID: <729@ihopb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-Jan-86 09:34:46 EST
Article-I.D.: ihopb.729
Posted: Tue Jan  7 09:34:46 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 8-Jan-86 08:01:14 EST
References: <82@druhi.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 30

>	  			The $1.00/month fee
>  paid to the telephone company defrays what they pay to
>  AT&T for connection to the long distance network.  It is
>  a local telephone company's charge to you, but the rest
>  of the long distance bill goes to the another company.

>  When I think of the present ripoffs like $1.27/m for an unlisted
>  number to prevent them from publishing what I consider no one
>  elses business but my own and $1.00/m for long distance services
>  that I don't use and then add the coming rate increases for my
>  basic service and for *forced* charity I begin to wonder if I
>  really need a telephone.

Please, please, please don't perpetuate these misconceptions!!!
The $1.00 "access" fee charged is *not* (repeat *NOT*) a fee for
the local phone companies to connect to the long distance network.
It has arisen because in the past long distance users subsidized the
cost of supplying local loops (the actual cable from the local office
to you house).  This was a government-sanctioned policy.  The current
policy is to gradually transfer more of the cost of supplying local
telephone service to the user by charging the "access" charge.  So,
the extra charge you are so upset about and trying to avoid by saying
you don't use long distance is really a charge for having a telephone
line connected *locally*.
Sue McKinnell   iihnp4!ihopb!suem
-- 

Sue McKinnell
...!ihnp4!ihopb!suem
IH 6N226  x5313