DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu) (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN) (07/14/89)
In response to jsol's post about untimed/unlimited toll-free calling areas, I noted that he mentioned how Hartford was expanding their local area. About 2 years ago, we got a ballot from SNET asking if Middletown customers (203-344,346,347,638) would agree to pay a slightly higher monthly rate if in return SNET would give us unlimited toll-free access to Hartford. In light of what appears to be an expansion of the Hartford toll-free area, I am wondering if anyone has heard if the plan to allow toll- free Middletown -> Hartford calls has been approved? Also, as for NYC, there is no unlimited service there. Callers IN the 5 boroughs of NYC pay 10.2 cents for a call anywhere in the 718/212 areas, or between the two. (This is daytime...standard eve/night discounts apply). If you have unlimited service, you can talk as long as you want (years, for that matter...), and still pay only 10.2 cents. There used to be unlimited calling, or "flate rate", where you pay a certain amount per month and all calls within your local area (nearby exchanges) were free. They don't offer this anymore in NYC, but people who had it before this was changed can still keep it. Some of the "flate rate" area crosses into area code 516 for certain border communities in Nassau County. I assume this is the same case near the Bronx/Westchester Co. Line. The nearby suburbs in New York all have unlimited "flat rate" as an option, but there are no "free" calls to NYC, from anywhere, as there are in the Boston suburbs. Recently down-state New York set up a new Regional Calling Plan, which replaced the "band" system of calling. Previously, you were billed by distance, IE, a call from NYC to Montauk Point at the tip of Long Island would be be bfreelike a Band "E", the most expensive (or was there an "F"?). Now, calls are billed by area. If you call within your area (NYC for example) you pay a set rate for that area (10.2 cents in NYC). If you call from one area to another, ie, NYC to Westchester, your call is not itemized but billed as a "Westchester Region" call, and you pay whatever the fixed rate NYC to Westchester is. This is a bit simpler than the "band" calling, as there are only a few ares to remember (NYC, Nassau Co, Western Suffolk Co, Eastern Suffolk Co, Lower Westchester Co + Greenwhich/Byram CT, and Upper Westchester Co.) Moreover, you don't have to know the distance of your call, but just the area you are calling in order to know what you will pay. Some customers are paying more because of this, ie if you live in the nothern section of "Lower Westchester" and want to call the southern section of "Upper Westchester", but are not local. However, if this happens, NY Tel will credit you with the difference between what the new plan charges you and what the old plan would have charged. This is automatic and appears on every bill where it is applicable. I'm sure there are plenty of things I left out, but so as not to stretch the patience of readers who are not from the area, I'll end it here. I'm almost sure that's how things work in the NY Metro area, but not having been in one place for a while now, I'm not sure...As usual, corrections are welcome... -Doug dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu dreuben@eagle.weslyn@wesleyan.bitnet (and just plain old "dreuben" to locals! :-) ) (Hmmm...I need a new .sig file...That's *so* passe' !) #!