Show Rate Increase American Telephone and Telegraph Telegraph Tele- Tele graph Company last week asked the Federal Communications Communications Communications Commission for an increase in long distance interstate interstate in in- telephone rates THE INCREASES are centered centered cen cen- on calls requiring ring operator operator op op- op- op such assistance as per per- to son-to-person credit card collect and coin telephone calls more costly to F pro pro pro- vide Smaller increases are planned for station calls dialed by customers during the busy weekday daytime hours hoWs according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to Laird Walker local manager for Mountain Bell NOT ALL rates would be increased Rates on evening night or weekend calls that customers complete without operator assistance will remain the same or in some cases be reduced Thus the individual caller can avoid any increase by calling in rate low-rate hours dialing calls without operator assistance Walker explained EVEN WITH the increases he said rate levels for interstate interstate interstate inter inter- state calls are still about 14 percent below 1953 levels In in inthe the same period the consumer consumer consumer con con- sumer price index rose nearly 47 percent The rate changes to become become become be be- come effective Jan 19 1971 are designed to produce an additional six percent million in total interstate revenues Walker said THIS WILL be the first general increase in interstate interstate interstate inter inter- state long distance rates in 17 years The rate changes are moderate moderate moderate mod erate but vitally important if the Bell System is to sustain sustain sus sus- tam tain e its massive service improvement improvement improvement im im- im- im provement program and meet fully the nations nation's growing communications communications communications com com- needs Walker said |