Ralph.Hyre@C.CS.CMU.EDU (Ralph W. Hyre Jr.) (12/31/85)
950 is free in the (513) 831 exchange, which isn't ESS. When I had trouble in another (Cincinnati Bell) exchange, however, the operator refused to connect me, saying that the call must be dialed directly. The reason these numbers aren't always free is because of slimy or ignorant phone companies; GTE was charging message units for 950 calls in California. I doubt that Congress can require 'free' exchanges, but it's something that needs to be done at some level higher than the state PUCs. (The operating companies should require dialing a 1 before dialing 976 numbers or other calls that will be charged for, so people can use toll restrictors to keep their children and others from dialing undesirable numbers.) -------