telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (09/07/89)
Centel Telephone customers will receive a $1 million refund and a $1 million rate decrease under a plan announced several days ago by Cook County, IL State's Attorney Cecil A. Partee. The agreement, filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission, calls for Centel's 134,000 Illinois customers to receive a $4 - $6 credit as a refund. Customers will save an estimated 40 cents per month from the permanent rate reduction. Partee had threatened to file suit against Centel because the telco had failed to pass along savings they realized under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which reduced the corporate income tax from 46 percent to 34 percent. Centel serves customers in Park Ridge and Des Plaines, IL, two northwest suburbs of Chicago. In addition, they serve a small number of customers in a little section of the northwest side of Chicago. The refund and lower rate will commence upon being programmed into the computer, and will be retroactive to September 1, 1989. Patrick Townson