Date: Wed, 26 Aug 92 23:09:02 EDT
From: me@stile.stonemarche.org (Mark Eklof)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: New England Telephone Brings Back "Granite State Calling"
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 664, Message 4 of 12

	This spring, there was mention in the Digest of New England
Telephone's switch to flat rate in-state (New Hampshire) long distance
calling.  With the new system, I could call the adjacent town to the
west of here for the same rate that I could a town on the other end of
the state (about 3.5 hours of highway driving away).  When they did
this, they also changed the discount calling plan (formerly called
"Granite State Service", and now called "CallAround 603 Plan"), with
different time periods, and rates.  The old plan allowed plan calls in
the afternoon, while the new one gave no discounts during the day.  I
called NETel at the time, to complain of the loss of the daytime
discount.  Suprisingly, the person I talked to said that many people
had voiced the same complaint (It wasn't suprising that others had
complained, it was suprising that they told me that), and that they
were "looking into" ways to address this.  I figured that was a brush
off, and there wasn't much I could do anyway.  Apparently, I was
wrong.  I received the following letter today.

                   ----------------------------------

				New England Telephone
				August 24, 1992

Dear Mr. Eklof:

Effective March 20, New England Telephone simplified and restructured
in-state long distance rates, eliminated Granite State(SM) Service,
and introduced the new CallAround(R) 603 discount calling paln.  As a
result, some customers expressed concern about the elimination of the
daytime calling period associated with their Granite State Service.

To alleviate these concerns, Granite State Service will be offerred to
qualified residence subscribers who so request between now and October 9.

As a Granite State Service customer of record during March, please
take a minute to read the descriptions below.  Then decide which plan
best fits your calling patterns and life style.  If you are unsure if
you qualify, you may call your local Business Office for more
information.

 ... [Details of the two plans ommitted.  I can send them if there's
interest, but the plan details and rates are the same as they were
before.  Also details of normal rates that would be in effect without
the plans, or during the (different) periods the plans aren't active.] ...

If you wish to re-subscribe to Granite State Service or request
assistance in choosing a calling plan, call your Service
Representative at the telephone number listed on the New England
Telephone Itemization of Account page of your bill.  Remember, orders
for Granite State Service must be received by October 9, 1992.

This will be your only opportunity to re-subscribe to Granite State
Service.  Orders for the service will not be accepted after Octover 9.
If you re-subscribe to Granite State Service, we will reinstate your
service without applying any installation charges.  If you are happy
with your current service arrangement, you do not need to contact us.

We hope this offer expresses our appreciation of your business.  Thank
you for using New England Telephone.


Sincerely, 
Allen F. Pattee
Vice President - New Hampshire

                 ---------------------------------------

	So, it looks like I'll be able to get the old service back,
though if I were just moving in, I'd be SOL.  I do plan to call them
in the morning and tell them to switch me back to Granite State
Service.


Mark D. Eklof	Brookline, New Hampshire, USA    me@stile.stonemarche.org