Toll-Free Calling Area Could Grow

GTE and US West Communications have asked Washington regulators to extend toll-free calling into outlying Spokane County and northern Whitman County, partly in response to growing demand for inexpensive Internet access.

If approved, 3,000 residents of seven communities served by GTE will be able to dial Spokane with little or no impact on their monthly bills, depending on the rate plan they select.

The rates of Spokane residents calling into those areas will not be affected.

Because the calls will be local, dialers no longer will have to use the 509 area code to reach the cities covered by the new extended-area service.

Spokesmen for the two companies said they hope the plans can be in place by June 8.

To compensate for lost long-distance revenues, GTE will offer three rate plans in the affected area.

The most expensive, Premium Calling, raises monthly rates from $12.25 to $14.25 but allows unlimited calling. In Rosalia, where residents now pay $10, the rate also would be $14.25.

Spokesman Bob Wayt said that plan will appeal to computer users who are connected for long periods of time with Internet servers based in Spokane.

“They run up exorbitant phone bills,” he said.

Two other plans carry lower base costs but impose tolls for some calls.

Business rates also would be affected.

The changes will give almost all Spokane County residents toll-free phone service into the city.

, DataTimes