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Show GGfiYes in Tolllfrse By ROSELYN KIRK FARMINGTON - A move to push for county-wide toll-free telephone service for Davis County has been supported by the Davis County Council of Governments (COG). State Representative James Hansen, Han-sen, Farmington, asked the 16 mayors, who make up the COG, for an endorsement en-dorsement of the toll-free concept and their support for a public hearing on the matter to be set by the Public Service Commission (PSC). REPRESENTATIVE Hansen said that Mountain Bell is in violation of the statue since Davis County has not received equal service to that provided in other counties. He said that Davis County which is similar to Weber County in size but has not been provided comparable service. The CC3 sustained Representative Hansen's request asking that the PSC hold the hearing on June 5 to determine whether there has been discrimination in telephone rates and service to Davis County residents. ACCORDING TO Representative Hun-sen, Hun-sen, all the stale legislators are behind the proposal which would allow Davis County residents to call anywhere within the county without paying a toll. The proposal asks that, in addition, residents in the south be able to call into Sail Lake ' County without paying a toll charge and those in the north end of the counlv have loll-free privileges into Weber County. Representative Hansen said the halfway half-way point iti the county would have to be set by county residents, based on their needs for calling other .counties. The Consumer Concern Committee, has asked the PSC to schedule Ihe June 5 hearing, which was supported by the COG. THAT COMMITTEE proposes that the PSC investigaie the quality of telephone service to the Davis County area and determine de-termine if it is comparable to that provided by Mountain Bell to other similar areas. The commission also proposes that the PSC investigaie the feasibility of extended service in counties and adjacent lo Davis County. According lo Joseph Ingles, administrative adminis-trative secreiary for the Consumer Concern Con-cern Committee, the June 5date is not vet firm since Mountain Bell Telephone lias asked the PSC to extend the hearing date. COG members suggested that the public meeting be held in the evening rather then in the morning as tentatively scheduled. REPRESENTATIVE Hansen said Davis County legislators have been concerned for some time over inadequate telephone service in the county. A bill was introduced in-troduced in the 1977 legislature, sponsored spon-sored by Rep. Franklin Knowlton and Senator Haven Barlow. Lavlon. and Representative Hansen which' asked for the toll free 25 mile limit. That bill was never passed, but all Davis County legislatures support the toll-free service he said. By adding the "additional clout" of the endorsement of the county COG, Representative Hansen said he believes the group will have the support "we need to see things fly." The support from elected officials and business leaders is especially needed al ihe public hearing, he said. THE PRESSURE group is asking lhat ihe monthly telephone rale of $9.46, the same rale as customers in Sail Lake County pay. be charged for the countv-wide countv-wide system. He said in the past Ihere has been a discrimination in telephone rates According to Represenlal ive Hansen! telephone users in Ihe counlv who have telephones with prefixes beginning with .16. 825 or 867 get 11 percent of the service but pay 80 percent of ihe bill. Layton residents are only able to call 1-arminglon and Clearfield toll free Representative Hansen said lhat counlv-wide counlv-wide toll-free calling system is available lo Weber County and Cache Counlv residents. COMMISSIONER Glen Flint said that the county has met with Mountain Bell officials several times and has not been able to get the rate structure changed He suggested the COG endorse the public hearing. Bountiful Mayor Elmer Barlow said the increase in rate from the present-cost present-cost of about $7 to $9.46 may pose some difficulties for senior citizens. But according ac-cording to Dr. Ingles, senior citizen's groups are working on a special rate schedule with the telephone company which may be approved. |
