WASHINGTON, D.C. - Arkansas’ consumers now have access to a “quick-scan” chart comparing multiple phone plans and rates offered by telecom competitors offering local telephone service in the state. The new easy-to-use tool developed by a Washington, D.C. based non-profit also explains the most cost effective solutions for each consumer based on their individual communications needs.

The phone plan comparison chart for Arkansas was released today as part of a special series in the Telecommunications Research & Action Center, TRACNotes newsletter. The series will issue a chart for each one of the 50 states over the coming weeks.

“Few consumers have the time to research what phone providers are in their area, look up the rates of each of their calling plans and compare individual features and costs,” said TRAC Chairman and founder Samuel A. Simon. “We wanted to make it easier for consumers to do this and hopefully in the end save money. For example, consumers may not be aware that their biggest local phone company isn’t necessarily the cheapest, and with an existing broadband connection they may be able to save on their local phone bills by switching to a VoIP service.”

For consumers in Arkansas, the data displays a variety of providers and plans in the metropolitan Little Rock area. Information includes: costs for monthly service rates, the federal subscriber line charge and the two most popular calling options – Caller ID and call waiting. The research concluded that Vonage’s Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan was the cheapest option surveyed at $14.99 per month, but requires an individual to have a broadband connection. For traditional landline phone service, Sage Telecom’s Simply Savings Essentials was the least expensive at $31.49. Overall, Arkansas residents living in metropolitan areas enjoy more choices due to competition between providers.

TRAC began the research after realizing that consumers were not saving as much money on phone services as they might, since there was no way for them to easily compare and contrast phone service information . TRACNotes is a free e-mail newsletter published weekly. Individuals can review the chart for Arkansas or begin receiving TRACNotes by visiting www.trac.org. Members of the press can access the chart at http://www.trac.org/news/2006/tracnotes-vol-4-36.html.

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