New Britain herald., 1923-07-02
TELEPHONE co. TO
 CHANCE ITS RATES Reduces Party Line Charge, h.
 CreaSeS Private Service Cost NEW 2-PARTY ARRANGEMENT
Private Wires to Re Billed At $3.25 Per Month, Multiple Party At $2.25 and Two-Paty At s2.75 No Change For Business Service.

A reduction of 25 cents a month in the rate for party line residence tele- phones, an increase of like amount in the rate for individual line residence service and the introduction, at rate
 midway between the rates for these two classes of service of a new two party residence service was announced today by the Southern New England Telephone company These changes will be effective with the July bills now being prepared and will apply in New Haven, Bridgeport Waterbury, Danbury, Meriden, Middletown, New Britain. New London, Norwalk, Nor wich, Stamford and Derby. .a
 No changes will be made in the rates for business service.
 New Rates in Effect
 Under the new schedule the rate for party line residence service in this city will be reduced from s2.50 to s2.25 month and the individual line residence rate will be increased from ss.Oo to s3.25 month. The new two-party line residence service will be s2.75 a month.
 The company's explanation of the necessity for these changes in its resi- dence rate and service ciassfications is set forth in the following statement, q copy of which will be enclosed with the July bills sent to all subscribers affected.
 Company's Explanation
 For many years the difference be- tween our base rates for individual and party line residence service has been 50 cents per month. Up to the time of the great economic disturb ance resulting from the World War this difference in rates was sufficient, in relation to then existing costs. tc bring about a well balanced distribu- tion of our residence subscribers be- tween the two classes of service and the need of a wider range of service to choose from did not obtain. With changed conditions. however, there de- veloped such an abnormal demand for individual lines as to cause a serious shortage of facilities from time to time in our city exchanges. This shortage is more acute today than axer 5s5nite the fact that aided facilities have been provided in much greater vol ume during recent years than for any corresponding period in the history of the business
 Tn order to correct this condition in a manner that will serve several sound and desirable purposes 1t has been decided to make three changes in certain of our residence rate and service schedules, viz: to reduce the rate for party line service by 25 cents per month; to increase the rate for individual line service by 25 cents per and to introduce, at rate between the rates for these two classes of service. new two par ty residence service.
 The purposes that will be served by these changes are as follows:
 Many New Subscribers Expected
 The reduction in the. party line l rate will attract many new subscrib- l CTS, thereby increasing the value of | our service to all subscribers. The l Increase in the individual line rate. | which under the changed economic i has become unduly low, | will more nearly relate that rate to | the cost of providing the service The ! two party service. at rate of 25 | cents per month less than the former : rate for individual line service, will ! meet the needs of many | present and future subscribers who desire something better than the regu- lar party line service but do not re- ,uire an individual line.
 "Of course, the adoption of the new rate schedule will not immediately | create a condition of ample facilities. We are engaged. however. on the argest construction program that we have ever undertaken in a single year { and are pushing it forward as ra- pidly as possible. By the operation of he new rate schedule in conjunction with that program, we confidently ex- pect that as time goes on we shall be ible to furnish more. service, to meet more promptly and satisfactory the of our patrons and to these results at a smaller total charge upon the public than would be made under our schedule of he past"