On Thu, 21 Dec 1995, Kenton Bird wrote:
> I wanted to alert subscribers to this list to a proposed change in GTE's
> local calling area for Moscow that could have significant impact on
> commerce, education and quality of life on the Palouse.
>
> Some Moscow GTE customers received notice of this change this week, but
> there has been no mention of it in local newspapers (as of Wednesday).
> As part of a plan reorganizing "local calling areas" in northern Idaho,
> GTE wants to drop free calls to Pullman from the basic Moscow service.
> This would reverse a hard-fought campaign of the early 1980s, and would
> be a setback to efforts to bring the two communities closer together.
>
> Currently, Moscow residents pay a flat rate of $14.60 for a one-party
> residential service. This includes calls to Moscow, Pullman and Garrison,
> WA, the border areas like the former U-Cities Supply.
>
> Under the new system, customers would have 3 options:
> * Basic calling, $8 a month, with local calls billed at 5 cents per initial
> minute, 2 cents for each additional minute.
> * Community calling, $14 a month, unlimited calls to Moscow and Garrison
> BUT not to Pullman. Calls to Pullman would be billed at 7 cents per
> initial minute plus 2 cents per additional minute.
> * "Community plus," $16.20 per month, which includes not only Moscow and
> Pullman, but also Genesee, Deary-Bovill and Potlatch in the free calling
> area.
>
> The letter and rate charts are somewhat confusing. Don't be misled...
> the $14 per month community calling appears to be a rate cut, but actually
> represents a signficant reduction in service. The $16.20 per month
> actually represents a $1.60 per month increase to maintain the current
> toll-free calling between Pullman and Moscow.
>
> I have been unable to find out whether GTE proposes similar changes in the
> calling area and rates for its Washington customers. Perhaps someone in
> Pullman has received a similar notice.
>
> I can understand the desire of Potlatch, Genesee and Deary-Bovill residents
> to be included in the Moscow calling area. However, I think that should
> be an option for them and not lumped together with the Moscow-Pullman
> area. For example, I have not called to Genesee or Deary in the past year,
> and have called Potlatch twice in the past year. However, I make between
> 10 and 12 calls a week to Pullman.
>
> If this proposal is implemented, it has the potential to raise telephone
> bills for everyone who lives in Moscow and works in Pullman, and vice versa.
> WSU has nearly 1,000 employees who live in Latah County.
>
> Offering an extra level of service and then using it to justify higher rates
> is similar to what the cable TV companies do: forcing subscribers to buy
> the entire cable package when all they want is CNN. I will be forced to
> pay for a service I don't need and won't use -- calls to Genesee, Potlatch
> and Deary -- in order to obtain one that I will use -- calls to Pullman.
>
> I spoke to an investigator of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission today,
> and she said if sufficient protests are received, the PUC might hold a
> hearing on this proposal. Comments need to be sent by Jan. 18, 1996 to:
> Idaho Public Utilities Commission
> PO Box 83720
> Boise, ID 83720-0074
>
> You can also call the PUC toll free at 1-800-432-0369, although they
> would prefer to have the comments in writing.
>
> I encourage anyone who shares my sentiments to write or call the PUC,
> and respond via e-mail to me, so that we can assess community response.
> Please forward this to other lists to which Moscow residents subscribe.
> Don't let GTE reverse 10 years of community cooperation!
>
> Kenton Bird
> (kbird@wsu.edu)
>