TRACNotes
Vol. 4 # 36 --
September 8, 2006
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BUCKS WATCH
TRAC State-by-State Local Phone Plan Comparison: Arkansas - (Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles comparing local telephone rates in each of the 50 states) Arkansas residents living in metropolitan areas of the state typically have a number of competitors bidding for their local phone service business. “Arkansas consumers with existing broadband connections may be able to save on their local phone bills by switching to a VoIP service,” said TRAC Chairman and founder Samuel A. Simon. “Those without broadband should also shop around and look at smaller local phone carriers before automatically using the biggest local phone company in their area.” VoIP service could be a cost-saver for consumers who already have a broadband connection and are comfortable with the limitations of VoIP calling (particularly 911 calling differences and susceptibility to power and broadband outages). Vonage and Packet8 are two VoIP providers with attractive local plans, which include some long distance calling as well. The monthly service fees of conventional landline plans in TRAC’s survey ranged in price from a low of $24.99 (Sage Telecom’s “Simple Savings Essentials” plan) to $39.95 (Talk America’s “Simple Savings Plan” with the "Deluxe Feature Package"). TRAC’s local phone plan survey takes in to account the prices for monthly service, the federal subscriber line charge, and the two most popular calling options – Caller ID and call waiting. Note that MCI’s local phone service is only available bundled with long distance service, which skews the total cost comparison somewhat. Please also note that the prices listed in the chart below apply to the metropolitan Little Rock area only and may differ in other parts of the state. The total prices below exclude additional fees, taxes, and surcharges that the carriers may apply. These extra fees can increase the monthly “checkbook cost” of these plans by 20-30% or more.
| TRAC Local Phone Plan Comparison: Arkansas |
| Carrier |
Plan |
Monthly Service Fee |
Caller ID |
Call Waiting |
Federal Subscriber Line Charge |
Broadband Fee** |
Total |
| AT&T |
Personal Choice |
$27.95 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$34.45 |
| AT&T |
Personal Choice Plus |
$33.95 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$40.45 |
| AT&T |
Enhanced Choice |
$35.95 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$42.45 |
| Comcast |
Digital Voice - Unlimited |
$57.95* |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$64.45 |
| MCI |
Neighborhodd Connect 200 |
$31.99 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$38.49 |
| MCI |
Neighborhood Connect 500 |
$43.99 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$50.49 |
| MCI |
Neighborhood Unlimited |
$49.99 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$56.49 |
| Navigator Telecom |
Basic Plus |
$27.95 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$34.45 |
| Packet8 |
Freedom Unlimited |
$19.99 |
Included |
N/A |
$39.45 |
$59.44 |
| Packet8 |
Freedom Unlimited (without broadband fee) |
$19.99 |
Included |
N/A |
N/A |
$19.99 |
| Sage Telecom |
Simply Savings Essentials |
$24.99 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$31.49 |
| Talk America |
Simple Savings w/Deluxe Feature Package |
$39.95 |
Included |
$6.50 |
N/A |
$46.45 |
| Vonage |
Premium Unlimited Plan |
$24.99 |
Included |
N/A |
$39.45 |
$64.44 |
| Vonage |
Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan |
$14.99 |
Included |
N/A |
$39.45 |
$54.44 |
| Vonage |
Premium Unlimited Plan (without broadband fee) |
$24.99 |
Included |
N/A |
N/A |
$24.99 |
| Vonage |
Residential Basic 500 Minutes Plan (without broadband fee) |
$14.99 |
Included |
N/A |
N/A |
$14.99 |
*Includes $3.00 cable modem monthly rental fee
** Average of nationwide cable modem prices as defined by Kagan Research - 7/6/06.
Details on How To Get Your Federal Excise Tax Refund – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) last week announced additional details regarding the process that consumers will use to get their Federal Excise Tax (FET) refund. Thanks to a recent court order, the IRS has agreed to stop collecting the Spanish-American War-era tax and will provide refunds to consumers. Individual taxpayers will be entitled to a $30-$60 refund on their 2006 tax return, depending on the number of exemptions claimed. The refund amounts are $30 for a person filing a return with one exemption, $40 for two exemptions, $50 for three exemptions and $60 for four or more exemptions. For example, a married couple filing a joint return with two dependent children (for a total of four exemptions) will be eligible for the maximum standard amount of $60. There will be an additional line on the regular 2006 return form to allow filers to apply for the refund. The IRS is creating a special short form (Form 1040EZ-T) for those who don’t need to file a regular return. Individuals can also choose to figure their refund using the actual amount of FET paid, but that will likely require taxpayers to consult 41 months worth of phone bills. For more information on the FET refund, click here.
WIRELESS WATCH
More Cool Ways to Make Use of Text Messaging – The explosion in the popularity of text messaging has given rise to any number of new applications that make use of the technology. Here are a few that consumers could make real use of:
- Verizon Wireless 411 Text – Verizon Wireless subscribers who call 411 to find a telephone number are given the option of having the number they’ve requested texted to the cell phone. For 411 callers who can’t reach a pen and paper to write down a listing (while driving, for example), this feature can be a real convenience.
- HopStop – Use this service to get directions between two addresses using mass transit. Users can register their cell phone number at www.hopstop.com and then text their starting and ending address (or cross-street) to 47867. HopStop will then text back subway and/or bus directions. Currently, the service is only available in Boston, New York City, Washington, DC, San Francisco, and Chicago. Philadelphia, Atlanta, Maryland, New Jersey, and Long Island, NY service is expected soon.
- PayPal Mobile – Forget the headaches of trying to remember who owes who for a restaurant tab. PayPal Mobile allows users to wire money from their credit card or checking account to any PayPal account. For example, the user would text “Send $20 to [PayPal user’s cell phone number].” PayPal Mobile then calls the senders cell phone and requests a PIN to ensure security. For more information or to sign up, click here.
Remember that the use of these texting applications and others like them is likely to incur text messaging charges from your cell phone provider, so be sure you know how much these will cost before going overboard on their use.
TRAC AND YOU
Parker Event Right Around the Corner! – TRAC’s annual Everett C. Parker Ethics in Telecommunications Lecture and Awards Luncheon is less that a week away! If you are interested in attending the event on September 12, there are still a number of seats available. As an added bonus, this year’s Distinguished Parker Lecturer, Amy Goodman, will be on hand after the event to sign copies of her new book, Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back. For more information on the event, please visit http://www.trac.org/events/ or e-mail johnb@trac.org.
INTERESTING LINKS
FCC Main Page: http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Complaint Form - http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
List of State Regulatory Commissions: http://www.naruc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=15
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©2006 Telecommunications Research and Action Center. TRAC grants unlimited rights to reproduce TRACNotes or any information contained in it provided attribution is given as follows: "Source: Telecommunications Research and Action Center. http://www.trac.org"
