fff@uunet.uu.net (Fred Fierling) (02/27/90)
Included with our latest telephone bill is a pamphlet that has an article titled "B.C. Residents get bargain rates compared to U.S.". I was astonished to see this and eagerly read the article. Unfortunately there is nothing in the article to back up their claim. What they do say is that overall phone rates in the U.S. have increased by 17 per cent from 1984 to 1988 while B.C. Tel rates *decreased* by 15 per cent in the same period. This doesn't prove we are getting a bargain now, it might mean that we where paying far too much in 1984. What follows are some charges for phone service here in Vancouver. Could someone post similar figures for equivalent service in a U.S. west coast city (like Seattle) so that I can decide for myself if I'm getting a bargain? Business individual access line (w/ touch tone) CDN$ 50.80 /month Residence individual access line (w/ touch tone) 14.90 /month Direct Dial long distance rates: Vancouver (West Coast) to Halifax (East Coast) 0.59 /min Vancouver (West Coast) to New York (East Coast) 0.63 /min Note: - rates taken from January and February 1990 bills - figures are in Canadian dollars, CDN $1.00 = US $0.83 - combined Federal and Provincial taxes of 17.66% *not* included. Fred Fierling uunet!van-bc!mplex!fff Tel: 604 875-1461 Fax: 604 875-9029 Microplex Systems Ltd 265 East 1st Avenue Vancouver, BC V5T 1A7, Canada