The object of what many may believe could revive TV`s ”Mission Impossible” is to choose a company that will provide the best and most economical service in long-distance telephoning. In one of its recent pronouncements following the break-up of Ma Bell, the Federal Communications Commission has required local telephone companies to try again (as they had tried once before) to persuade customers to select a primary long-distance carrier.
In the first attempt, nonchoosers remained customers of AT&T. But now, in the interest of fairness in the marketplace, nonchoosers will be assigned to one of the companies participating in an area`s ”equal access” program. Allocation will be based on a percentage of nonchoosers equal to the percentage of customers who chose each company. For example, if 30 percent of a particular area`s customers choose GTE Sprint, 30 percent of nonchoosers will be assigned to GTE Sprint. And those who did select a company other than AT&T in the original balloting should not have to choose again. By now their first choice should have been registered with that company. However, it`s worth a phone call to the carrier to make sure.
Telephone users in Park Ridge and Des Plaines don`t have to concern themselves with equal access. Their phone service is provided by the Centel Co. rather than Illinois Bell. A Centel spokesman said the company has no plans to begin equal access balloting right now.
For Illinois Bell customers, however, the process goes this way: Illinois Bell sends a ballot to telephone users in a particular prefix area about 90 days before the area`s conversion to Dial 1 service, asking them to choose a carrier within about a month. A customer who does not respond will receive another ballot containing the information that, unless a long-distance company is chosen within about 10 days, the customer will be assigned to a company. The second ballot will name that company.
Illinois Bell plans to have 80 per cent of its lines converted to Dial 1 Plus by Sept., 1986, and the process completed by 1992. The telephone company will not say exactly when the Chicago area`s conversion will be completed, only that balloting and conversion are ongoing. Anyone who wishes to check the schedule (or ask other related questions) may call Illinois Bell`s Dial 1 Plus hotline: 800-572-8971.
Now, what are the concerns of someone who doesn`t make a great number of long-distance calls and thus believes that shopping around is unnecessary?
Here`s one: ”What if the company I`m assigned to doesn`t have the transmission capability to call the places I occasionally call?”
Here`s another: ”What if the company I`m assigned to charges a minimum monthly fee?” But the FCC has ruled that carriers participating in equal access must be able to connect calls anywhere in the continental U.S. and none may charge minimum monthly fees to those who choose or are assigned to them.
For those who have more time than money and monthly long-distance bills of $15 or more, shopping around might provide a savings. There are many questions worth asking to compare the various features and services offered. Some general questions need answering as well.
Q–What is equal access? Is it synonymous with ”Dial 1 Plus”?
A–As the terms relate to consumers, they are equivalent. Equal access means that local telephone companies are required to adapt their switching equipment to provide the same access to their transmission networks formerly enjoyed only by AT&T. Dial 1 Plus means that the telephone user may dial a long-distance number simply by dialing 1 plus the area code and telephone number. The call will be routed directly to the long-distance company selected or assigned as the customer`s primary carrier.
Until equal access is in effect in a particular prefix area, anyone using long-distance service other than AT&T`s must dial an access code, which can be a lengthy number of digits. With equal access in effect, any phone will accommodate long-distance calling. In areas without equal access, some access codes can be used only with push-button phones.
Q–What does selection or assignment of a ”primary” carrier mean?
A–The ”primary” carrier is the company that will provide Dial 1 service. Although residential users may not need varied service, it is possible to call through other long-distance carriers as well. Access codes may be obtained from the companies. For example, if you occasionally call through another long-distance company participating in equal access in your area, you will dial the company`s five-digit access code. If you occasionally use a company not participating in your area`s equal access, the access code will be longer. You must register with these companies as well as with your primary carrier.
Q–Why isn`t the entire program being implemented simultaneously in all areas of the state?
A–For one thing, the long-distance companies have to decide if they wish to participate in each area. In Illinois, 16 companies are participating, but not every one in every area. An Illinois Bell representative said computer and other equipment alterations are necessary to accommodate equal access in many locations. Ballot printing and distribution take time because the names of the participating companies must be rotated, as required by the FCC, to give each one a shot at the top spot on a portion of the ballots in every area.
Q–How can you determine which company will save you money?
A–To do so, you must answer questions such as ”What time of day do I do my long-distance calling?” (Rates may vary at different times.) ”Do I make calls of long or short duration?” (Callers who talk for long periods might save with a company that charges less for subsequent minutes than for the first minute, depending on where they call. Calling a low-traffic rural area may be more costly than calling a high-volume urban center.)
Companies that round up to a fraction of a minute (6 seconds or 30 seconds) rather than the next minute would provide a savings. (Allnet, for example, charges $2.15 for a 5-minute call to San Jose, Calif., but only $1.96 for a 4.5-minute call. A company that rounds up to the next minute would charge the same amount for both calls. If you can find a company that charges less than $2.15 for a 5-minute call, that, too, is a savings.)
More questions: Can I call from a phone away from my home location, such as a pay phone, a phone in another city, etc? Is there an extra charge for that? Is there a discount for high-volume calling? At what level does it apply? Are the rates for intrastate calls different from those for interstate calls? Which company provides the best rates for the places I call most often at the times I call? Which company provides the best rates for directory assistance and other services? Do they bill for these services whether or not they are used?
ONE HELPFUL BOOKLET
There is one work-free method available for answering such questions. The Consumers` Checkbook, which publishes an information-packed booklet titled
”The Complete Guide to Lower Phone Costs,” offers a computerized analysis of the long-distance portion of a phone bill.
Fees for this service range from $10 for bills of $10 or less to $100 for bills between $200.01 and $300. (Higher bill holders may call 800-441-8933.)
For information, call 202-347-7283. For a copy of the lower phone costs guidebook, send $6.95 to Lower Phone Costs, Consumer Checkbook, 806 15th St. N.W., Suite 925, Washington, D.C. 20005.
In Chicago, Citizens Utility Board, 108 N. State St., Room 1202, offers a chart that describes Dial 1 Plus companies` rates per minute for three different distances during different rate periods, plus other information. Phone 263-4282.
If you decide to do the comparison yourself, work with several (or all, if you have the time) of the companies listed on the ballot you received in the mail. Each lists a toll-free 800 number. Examine several of your telephone bills and determine where you call most often, what time of day and the calls` length. Compile a list of questions, then call the long-distance companies and gather your data. Those comparisons should give you a fairly good idea which carriers would provide a savings for your particular calling pattern.
Be aware that several companies in Illinois` Dial 1 Plus program are business services. These are TDX Systems, Electronic Office Centers and Republic Telcom, although Electronic Office Centers and Republic Telcom do serve some residential customers. TMC Long Distance`s main thrust is small to mid-size businesses, but it also offers residential service in equal access. Among TMC`s selling points are a flat rate per minute, and rounding up to the next sixth second. An Illinois Bell representative said Telesphere appeared on ballots in a limited area early on, but is no longer participating.
PRICE AND QUALITY
Price is one factor in selecting a long-distance carrier. Quality of service is another. In the past, long-distance telephoning problems have included echo, static, crosstalk, tinny sound, extraneous noise and low volume.
To demonstrate their quality of service, some companies offer a trial period. Asking friends about their carriers` quality is another way of judging. You might also take into account Consumer Checkbook`s survey of companies, which found SBS Skyline ”least inferior,” generally, to AT&T, Allnet second in that category and GTE Sprint fourth. (Third place went to a company not participating in Illinois.) The guidebook says quality may increase with equal access, but differences still will exist because the companies` transmission systems vary and because, although equal access may be in effect at one end of the call, it may not be at the other end.
Some companies own their own transmission facilities–cable, microwave, satellite or combinations of them. Some, such as Lexitel, now are investing in fiber optics, a system by which thousands of calls can be transmitted simultaneously along a single strand of extremely fine glass fiber.
Companies known as ”resellers” purchase or lease transmission capacity in bulk from better equipped firms at a discount, then resell it to customers. The Consumers` Checkbook explains it as a method that combines ”the buying power of large numbers of individual callers.” Some resellers now are merging with other companies and gradually building up their own transmission systems, which should improve their quality of service.
Telephone users assigned to a long-distance company may change carriers once within six months without charge. After that, the charge will be $5. Those who choose a long-distance company, however, do not have that six-month grace period. Some long-distance companies will absorb the $5 charge, however. —
HOW THE SERVICES RATE
Below is a comparison among several companies of five-minute calls from Chicago to San Jose, Calif., and from Chicago to Macomb, Ill.. There`s also a breakdown of per-minute rates for the three standard calling periods. This type of analysis is recommended by consumer groups. (Note: AT&T and several other companies include between 5 and 11 p.m. Sunday in the evening rather than weekend rate scheme.)
ALLNET:
Chicago to San Jose: daytime, $2.15; evening, $1.35; night/weekend, 89 cents. Per minute: daytime, 51 cents first minute, 41 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 31 cents first minute, 26 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 22 cents first minute, 17 cents subsequent minutes.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.86; evening, $1.35; night/weekend, 74 cents. Per minute: daytime, 38 cents first minute, 37 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 23 cents first minute and subsequent minutes; late night/
weekend, 15 cents first minute and subsequent minutes.
AT&T LONG DISTANCE SERVICE:
Chicago to San Jose: daytime, $2.12; evening, $1.27; late night/weekend, 84 cents. Per minute: daytime, 56 cents first minute, 39 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 33 cents first minute, 23.5 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 22 cent, first minute, 15.5 cents subsequent minutes.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.79; evening, $1.31; late night, weekend, $1.04. Per minute: daytime, 47 cents first minute, 33 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 35 cents first minute, 24 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 28 cents first minute, 19 cents subsequent minutes.
GTE SPRINT:
Chicago to San Jose, daytime, $1.98; evening, $1.22; late night/weekend, 82 cents. Per minute: daytime, 43.1 cents first minute, 32.7 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 29.7 cents first minute, 22.9 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 23.8 cents first minute and 18.3 cents subsequent minutes.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.74; evening, $1.21; late night/weekend, 97 cents. Per minute: daytime, 53 cents first minute, 36.3 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 32.4 cents first minute, 22.6 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 21.4 cents first minute, 15.3 cents subsequent minutes.
ITT:
Chicago to San Jose, daytime, approximately $2; evening, $1.20; night/
weekend, 80.24 cents. Per minute: daytime, 53 cents first minute, 36.9 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 31.8 cents first minute, 22.14 cents subsequent minutes; night/weekend, 21.2 cents first minute, 14.76 cents subsequent minutes.
Chicago to Macomb, daytime, $1.97; evening, $1.18; late night/weekend, 79 cents. Per minute: daytime, 49 cents first minute, 36.9 cents subsequent minutes; evening, discount 40 percent; late night/weekend, discount 60 percent.
LEXITEL MAX:
Chicago to San Jose: daytime, $1.93; evening, $1.10; late night/weekend, 74 cents. Per minute: daytime, 38.54 cents; evening, 22.11 cents; late night/ weekend, 14.70 cents.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.70; evening, $1; night/weekend, 67 cents. Per minute: daytime, 33.90 cents; evening, 19.98 cents; late night/weekend, 13.36 cents.
MCI:
Chicago to San Jose: daytime, $2.03; evening, $1.27; late night/weekend, 83 cents. Per minute: daytime, 49.20 cents first minute, 38.54 cents subsequent minutes; evening, 31.29 cents first minute, 23.17 cents subsequent minutes; late night/weekend, 20.90 cents first minute, 15.44 cents subsequent minutes.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.69; evening, $1.27; night/weekend, $1.01. Per minute: daytime, 43 cents first minute, 31.6 cents subsequent minutes;
evening, 32 cents first minute, 23.7 cents subsequent minutes; late night/
weekend, 25 cents first minute, 18.9 cents subsequent minutes.
SBS SKYLINE:
Chicago to San Jose: daytime, $1.80; evening, 95 cents; late night/
weekend, 70 cents.
Chicago to Macomb: daytime, $1.45; evening, 85 cents; late night/weekend, 60 cents.
SBS Skyline`s rates are divided into three categories. Neighboring state: daytime, 29 cents; evening, 17 cents; night/weekend, 12 cents (intrastate calls included here). Regional: (Chicago to San Jose included here) daytime, 36 cents; evening, 19 cents; night/weekend, 14 cents. Coast to coast: daytime, 42 cents; evening, 24 cents, late night/weekend, 16 cents. —
