TRAC REACTS TO FCC DECISION: RELEASES HOT TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The following statement can be attributed to Samuel A. Simon, Chairman, of TRAC, the Telecommunications Research and Action Center:
"TRAC applauds both the FCC and Bell Atlantic for the breakthrough in bringing more choice and competition to consumers in BOTH the local and long distance markets."
"The formula for consumers to win is simple: More choices for more services at lower prices and higher quality -- local, long distance and data. Consumers must be the winners as we move to the new competitive marketplace in telephone and telecommunications."
Today, TRAC also released its newest edition of TeleTipsJ Residential Long Distance Rate Comparison Chart, which compares 41 different calling baskets for consumers. It has also released the following Hot Tips for the Holidays:
TRAC'S HOT TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
- CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS MIGHT NOT BE CHEAPER: Check your carriers before assuming that Christmas or New Year's Day will be cheaper calling periods. It depends on your plan! For example, MCI standard rate plans with $.05 Sunday will charge you normal weekend rates for Christmas and New Years Day. AT&T, for some plans, will treat both Saturday holidays as $.05 Sundays.
- NEW AT&T PLAN FOR LOW VOLUME USERS: On December 1st, AT&T filed with the FCC for a new plans which is ideal for the very low volume user. IT IS THE ONLY AT&T PLAN WITH NO MONTHLY MINIMUMS. The price is $.19 a minute (in state and out-of-state), with no monthly minimums. (PICC and USF charges still apply). If you are an AT&T customer and spend less than 30 minutes calling in a month you may want to consider this plan.
- CALLING CARD FEES: If you are an AT&T customer, and you make more than one calling card call in a month, it pays to join their $1.00 a month calling card plan. In December the per-minute charge for calling card calls went up to $.69 a minute with a $1.25 per call surcharge. If you pay the $1.00 a month, it is $.25 a minute with no surcharge! If you DON'T have an AT&T calling card, DON'T pay the $1.00 a month charge.
- CHECK OUT INTERNET SAVINGS: You can save using the Internet in a number of different ways. Go to TRAC http://www.trac.org and use directory assistance at no charge. We link to the sites that offer this. The big carriers offer some of the best plans only over the Internet. Go to their web sites. Finally, if you have a microphone and speakers, there are a growing number of "free" long distance services using the Internet.
Copies of the current TeleTipsJ residential chart may be obtained by sending a stamped (two first class stamps), self-addressed, business sized envelope and a $5 check to TRAC at PO Box 27279, Washington, DC 20005.
TeleTips is the only independent source for information on long distance calling plans. TRAC is a non-profit, tax-exempt consumer organization that works to help consumers make informed decisions regarding their long distance options. TRAC has published TeleTips for the past fourteen years. TRAC also provides an Internet-based long distance call comparison tool called WebPricer on its web site at www.trac.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
John Breyault, TRAC, johnb@trac.org, 202-263-2943
ABOUT TRAC:
The Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), founded in 1983, is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the interests of residential telecommunications customers. TRAC staff researches telecommunications issues and publishes rate comparisons to help consumers make informed decisions regarding their long distance and local phone service options. TRAC can be found on the web at http://www.trac.org.
