BellSouth bills may go up for some customers

BellSouth bills

may go up for some customers

BellSouth customers will notice

several changes on their phone bills this summer.

Working with local and long-distance telephone companies, the Federal

Communications Commission (FCC) recently approved a plan that will cause

some changes to your local and long-distance telephone bills. This plan

comes from a reduction in fees that long distance companies pay to local

telecommunications companies like BellSouth.

Under the plan, nearly all customers will pay less when their local and

long distance telephone bills are added together. For some, total bills

may remain the same.

On long distance bills, long-distance companies will stop charging customers

a National Access Fee (also known as Presubscribed Interexchange Carrier

Charge or PICC). This will amount to savings of about $1.50 a month. And,

many long-distance telephone companies will now offer plans that do not

require a minimum service fee.

On local bills, you'll no longer see a National Access Fee (or PICC)

on your local bill if you do not choose a long-distance company. The FCC

Network Access Charge (formerly referred to as the Subscriber Line Charge)

will increase, and there will be a new charge for Federal Universal Service

Fund. This federally approved fund helps keep local phone service affordable

for all people and gives a discount to schools, libraries and low-income

families.

The end result is a lower total cost for telephone service. Your first

telephone bill to show the changes will include an explanation and a number

to contact with questions. Or, Internet subscribers can visit www.phonebillcentral.org

for more information.

Gene Gulledge

District Manager

Corporate Affairs