LETTERS:OTHER AREAS AFFECTED BY TOLL CALLS

To the editor:

Your front-page story Dec. 31 regarding efforts by citizens of Benton, Chaffee and Oran to seek expanded area telephone service struck a responsive note with me. I am convinced that Southwestern Bell is hurting economic growth in our area by being obstinate about the issue of extended-area calling.

Citizens who live in the area served by the Patton-Sedgewickville exchange (866) as I do are unable to call numbers in any other exchange without a toll or without paying one of the special-service charges that Southwestern Bell makes available. This means that, no matter how needy, a person cannot contact his own county government offices or other service agencies in Marble Hill -- nor anyone in Jackson or Cape Girardeau or Perryville -- without a toll call. Unfortunately, the Patton-Sedgewickville area is not the only area that has such limitations.

From my own exploration of this issue with Southwestern Bell, it is clear that the Missouri Public Service Commission decided many years ago to deregulate the issue of toll-free calling zones, and Southwestern Bell has no interest in presenting any proposal that would either reduce its revenue or cause a fuss over service charges.

A plan in which the entire Cape Girardeau trade area was included in a toll-free calling zone would be a big step forward for businesses, families and individuals in this area.

In some major metropolitan areas it serves, Southwestern Bell has expanded toll-free calling substantially in recent years. It appears to consider the Cape Girardeau market small potatoes and not in need of a similar change.

Southwestern Bell's parent company, SBC Communications Inc., is now engaged in a court battle to block a federal law opening up local phone service to competition. The goal appears to be to maintain Southwestern Bell's current monopoly so that competitors will have no opportunity to expand toll-free calling or make other service improvements.

I wish the citizens of Benton, Chaffee and Oran well with their petition drive. They should be prepared, however, for a very long battle over this issue.

ROBERT FULTON, Executive Director

East Missouri Action Agency

Park Hills