BELL SOON TO COMPETE FOR LOCAL TOLLS

Southwestern Bell has been the primary carrier of local toll calls in the Cape Girardeau area the past 15 years.

Starting this month, that could change. Customers can choose any company they would like to serve as their carrier.

Currently, when a customer picks up the phone and dials 1+ or 0+ Southwestern Bell is the automatic carrier.

The only exceptions have been special "dial-arounds" or "10-10" numbers provided by some long distance providers.

There are four local access and transport areas in Southwestern Bell's Missouri territory for which the company provides residential and toll service.

The boundaries were created after the breakup of the Bell System in 1984 and were also called regional long-distance or local toll calling zones.

Now local dialing parity, implemented by the Missouri Public Service Commission, allows the customer to select a telephone company for regional toll calls in the same way they select a long-distance provider.

As a result, when customers make local toll calls by dialing 1, the area code and telephone number, calls will automatically be handled by the telephone company of their choice.

The new rules are based on provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which said parity must begin within three years.

Customers can contact the local Southwestern Bell Telephone Company business office, or the company they would favor to provide the service, to find out which companies are authorized to provide regional toll service in Missouri, said Donna Burk, Southwestern Bell Regional Director.

From 90 to 120 companies serve areas in Missouri but not all could act as a local toll call provider.

For example, some companies may provide service in Cape Girardeau, but not in Farmington, said Southwestern Bell spokesman Brian Westrich.

From July 22, 1999 through Jan. 22, 2000, customers may select a provider other than Southwestern Bell and not be charged for making the change.

However, if the customer wants to change a second time, or make the initial change after Jan. 22, it will result in a small fee.