"If you use 10-10 (or dial around) numbers to make long distance calls, check out TRAC's chart to see if the rates on your favorite one have changed," says TRAC, the Telecommunications Research and Action Center. TRAC, the only non-profit organization that publishes rate comparisons for consumers and small businesses, today released an updated Dial Around Comparison Survey.

"Many 10-10 numbers have increased their universal service fees, per call fees, monthly fees and per minute rates," said Samuel A. Simon, Chairman of TRAC.

For example, the heavily advertised 10-10-321 has raised its rate from 16 cents to 18 cents a minute in the past year for calls that last 10 minutes and under. Calls over 10 minutes used to be 8 cents a minute, now they are 9 cents per minute.

Five of the 10-10 numbers TRAC surveyed raised their per call fees and 8 have raised their universal service fees. A year ago, when TRAC did its last survey, 6 dial arounds of the 14 surveyed had no universal service fee (USF). Now only 3 have no USF. Two dial arounds went from no USF at all to one of 9.9% today.

Four "big" long distance carriers (AT&T, Frontier, Qwest, and Sprint) also have a 9.9% USF. Matrix's is lower at 8.4%. "Many people elect to use dial arounds so that they can have no long distance carrier assigned to their phone line. But with dial arounds instituting USFs similar to the big companies, it really cuts down on their advantages. If you were using a dial around to avoid fees like the USF, you better think again," said TRAC researcher Karen Walls.

There are still good deals to be had though. Try 10-16-868. It's 7.9 cents per minute, and there is no minimum call length, monthly fee, or per call fee. The USF (8.5%) is comparable to other long distance companies. Consider also 10-10-345. It's 10 cents per minute, with a fee of just 15 cents per call.

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