Agenda - 11-05-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PA proposal would cost $2.46 monthly for residence lines and $5.53 per month for business lines. These proposals do reflect an attempt on the part of the phone companies to respond to the County's long - standing concerns about excessive tolls assessed to phone customers in Orange County. However, the proposals would recover any immediate toll loss over the long -term for both phone companies. Historically, EAS plans approved in other regions of North Carolina have been based on rates that allow phone companies to recover equipment costs, but with no provision for lost toll recovery. The question then is: Do we accept any of these proposals, or do we request that the Utilities Commission consider a traditional EAS approach that does not provide for phone companies to recover all toll loss? We believe the latter would be in the long -term best interests, both individually and collectively, of the citizens of Orange County. The present long distance structure is an exception to normal practice in North Carolina, with the County divided into six separate toll exchanges served by four different companies. it has resulted in decades of Orange County customers paying more than necessary for long distance service. The current structure is particu- larly expensive for small businesses and individual households. Annual telephone costs incurred by the County in providing services to citizens throughout Orange County would likely drop significantly. Historical figures developed by the Public Staff of the Utilities Commission during the discussion earlier this year of Triangle -wide EAS reveal that equipment cost recovery for the phone companies would be achieved at flat rates substantially .lower than those proposed by the companies. We propose that EAS be provided by each telephone company operating in Orange County at monthly rates that permit the companies to recover costs but with no toll loss recovery. Our proposed monthly flat rate EAS charges, contrasted with those of the telephone companies are: Company Proposal County Proposal Residence Business Residence Business Southern Bell (CH) $ .73 $ 2.01 $ .10 $ .30 Centel (Hillsborough) $ 2.46 $ 5.53 $ .40 $ 1.05 Mebane Home Telephone $ .80 $ 2.10 GTE (Durham) $ 3.73 $ .25 $ .65