Consumer Groups Call On At&T; To Cut Rates

AT&T should lower prices for some calls because the company has broken a promise to cut rates for many of its 80 million residential customers, consumer groups said Wednesday.

“Enough is enough,” the Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America said in a letter asking the Federal Communications Commission to act.

The FCC had no immediate comment on the request.

The request for FCC action follows a new pricing plan AT&T implemented earlier this month for the residential customers who don’t take part in discounted calling plans such as One Rate.

Those basic customers were charged a single rate depending on the time of day, regardless of the distance. For years, the industry has used distance to price calls.

Consumers Union said at the time that the plan would raise prices for evening, nighttime and early morning calls made on weekdays.

AT&T said that what customers pay will depend on when they call but the company won’t earn any more.