stevek%squid@hub.ucsb.edu (Steve Keifling) (08/24/89)
My roommates and I want to put in a second line into our house for modem use. Somewhere I recall hearing that the phone company could install a "bare-bones" line that could only make local calls and hence be exempted from the FCC "Interstate subscriber line charge." However, when I called GTE I was informed that all phone numbers have this charge whether they make long distance calls or not. Furthermore, she offered me the "service" of blocking long-distance calling for a mere $2.50 per month! Feh. Is GTE giving us the runaround, or is this FCC charge in fact inescapable? ----- Steve Moderator's Note: The charge is assessed to compensate local telephone companies for lost revenue as a result of their no longer being partially subsidized by long distance revenue. It has nothing to do with whether or not you make long distance calls; but rather that the long distance companies do not contribute (by the historic formulas, at least) to the cost of local phone service. It is inescapable. Send a note to The Great Architect of modern phone service in the USA and thank Him for his wisdom. PT]