From: jp@tygra.Michigan.COM (John Palmer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Lookee What Michigan Bell Put in My Bill
Date: 14 Apr 92 02:35:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: eecs.telecom12.316.1
Organization: CAT-TALK Conferencing System, Clinton Township, MI
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 316, Message 1 of 9

The following insert was sent with my April Michigan Bell Bill:

"How New State Law Impacts Business Customers"

News about the new Michigan Telecommunications Act that went into
effect this year has been widely reported in the media. The new law
replaced a nearly 80-year-old statute which had governed
telecommunications in Michigan since 1913. It gives Michigan Bell new
freedom to compete by allowing for quick changes in prices and the
introduction of new products and services faster than ever before.

The very first action Michigan Bell took under the new law was a sharp
reduction in price of long distance calls within Michigan's area
codes -- and the promise to cut prices later again this year. More
announcements quickly followed.

In this brochure, we want to fill you in on some of the changes that
we made so far under the new Michigan Telecommunications Act ... and
tell you to keep watching, because there will be many more to come.

LONG DISTANCE PRICES REDUCED

Beginning January 1, Michigan Bell reduced the prices of long distance
calls within the area code by $20 million annually.  Another cut of
more than $20 million is targeted for later this year.  Overall, the
reductions will amount to a cut of more than 10 percent in prices
customers pay for long distance calls within their area codes. One
result of these price cuts is that it no longer costs more to call
from Detroit to Ann Arbor than it does to call from Detroit to Los
Angeles

[Note: Thats a LIE! I checked the new rates and they are the SAME AS
THEY WERE BEFORE 1-JAN!!!]

This was a major annoyance for customers...and one that was long 
overdue to end. 

AMERITEC VALUE CALLING PLAN IS IMPROVED 

Business customers of all sizes stand to be big winners with new
features of the Ameritec Value Calling Plan (AVCP). Until now, large
and medium size businesses have been the main customers for AVCP. But
improvements to the plan now make it attractive to a wide variety of
of customers. small businesses which average as little as five hours
of in-area code long distance calling a month, can benefit from the
improved AVCP. At the same time, businesses which use 250 or more
hours of long distance will see even greater savings with attractive
new rate bands at the high usage end. Enhancements to the Ameritec
Value Calling Plan could bring $10 to $15 million in savings annually
to long distance customers.

PRICE CHANGES FOR PREMIUM OPERATOR-ASSISTED CALLS

For the first time in nearly 10 years, the price of Michigan Bell's
premium, operator-assisted calls has gone up. Even with the increases,
our operator-service prices in nearly all cases are well below what
other providers of these services are charging. Effective February 1,
the charge for collect calls, operator-dialed calls, calls billed to a
third number and requests to the operator for "time and charges" on a
call is $1.65. Calling card and operator-timed calls from coin phones
cost 65 cents, and person-to-person calls cost $3.00. (These prices
are in addition to any applicable local or long distance charges.) To
have an operator verify that a number is busy now costs $1.40. And if
you ask an operator to interrupt a conversation on a busy line, the
cost is $2.80.

PRICE CUTS, NEW DISCOUNT PLANS LET YOU SAVE AT HOME, TOO

When you leave work at the end of the day, that doesn't mean your
telephone savings have to come to an end. The $20 million reductions
in long distance prices we announced in January applies to residence
as well as business customers (that will be true of our second round
of price cuts later this year as well).  And we've also introduced two
new optional plans designed specifically for residence customers who
make many calls to nearby communities.  New Circle Calling 20 provides
up to seven hours of zone and long distance calling up to 20 miles
away for just $20/month. Circle calling 30 offers a 30-percent
discount on zone and long distance calls up to 30 miles, and also
includes 30 minutes of zone and toll calling-all for $3/month. So,
wether you're at work or at home, Michigan Bell has big savings
possibilies for you!

   -------[END OF BROCHURE]--------

Question: I've already exposed one lie in this thing. What are the
other ones? You know MBT only advocates what will put more bucks in
their pocket, and take more out of ours. Mr/Ms Congressman: PLEASE
keep HR3515 moving!!!


CAT-TALK Conferencing System   | E-MAIL: jp@Michigan.COM
+1 313 790 6426 (USR HST)      | MICHIGAN NETWORK SYSTEMS, INC.  
+1 313 790 6432 (TELEBIT PEP)  | 800-736-5984  FAX: 313-790-6437 
********EIGHT NODES*********** | TELEBIT, DIGIBOARD, ISC UNIX, MICROPOLIS