Show Last Hike in 58 k MST Seeks Utah Utah Rite Rate Review Mountain States Telephone Co has asked for a review of Public Service Commission According to a report Id I'd by Vernal Manager D Ro Ro- Ro r bert be rt Olsen the application strEsses a need for more re- re revenue venue if the company is to f continue providing progressive r I telephone service in Utah ERIC C Aaberg aberg vice I dent and general manager said telephone rates were last raised in 1958 and have been reduced by since 1962 The reduction includEd n a 25 cent per month decrease in residential rates lower charges for tong long distance calls within Utah and removal of charges within metropolitan Salt Lake City IN ADDITION there has been beena a complete elimination of some toll charges by expanding local calling areas Mr Aaberg said The company has both Improved and expanded its ser vices at higher costs and has hns had increasEd expenses in bal bor rowing for expansion The corn com pany is also paying substantial increases In wage costs and taxes he said THE application said The present schEdule of rates and charges for Intrastate telephone services now produces earnings which are inadequate to sustain continued service expansion antI and Improvement and to pro pro- provide vide a fair and reasonable re- re return return turn A tax load nearly doubled from 1958 to 1967 was cited cited- soaring from 6 million to million In 19 years Telephones in Utah increased from in 1958 to at early IDeS 1968 Investment per telephone in Utah has climbed from to Aaberg noted |