Regulators Delay Action On Isdn Rate Hike

A plan that would have tripled the cost of high-speed telephone lines to some users was shelved by Washington regulators Monday, but a spokesman for US West Communications said the proposal will likely be resubmitted later this year.

Harry Grandstrom said the company will leave its existing rates for Integrated Service Digital Network service in place until the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission completes deliberations on the company’s request for a general rate overhaul.

Refiling will probably push implementation of any new ISDN rates into 1997.

The decision was good news for the growing number of companies selling Internet service and their customers, many of whom purchase ISDN to enable employees to work from home.

ISDN lines can carry up to 128,000 bits of data per second, compared with 28,000 bits for ordinary analog lines.

More importantly, said Computech co-owner Jeff Albrecht, one ISDN line can handle more than one use simultaneously. A home computer connected to a business’ local-area network, for example, won’t interfere with a conversation on the same line.

He said his customers, all Spokane businesses, would have been affected by the US West plan to impose a cap on the number of hours of service provided for $63 a month, the current maximum.

The US West plan called for a new rate - $184 per month - for use in excess of 200 hours.

“I don’t understand the justification,” said Albrecht, who added that his customers keep their lines open 24 hours a day.

Grandstrom said ISDN is a top priority because of the service’s value to customers.

And Scott Berman, US West director for ISDN, said the company expects this year to multiply by as much as 10 the number of users in its 14-state service territory.

There are about 2,000 in Washington, he said, very few of whom are on-line 200 hours a month.

The service is not yet available to GTE customers in North Idaho, spokesman Bob Wayt said, but tariffs could be filed this spring.

In Washington, he said, GTE is negotiating rates that would offer unlimited service for $72-$78 a month.

Washington utilities commission spokeswoman Marilyn Meehan said 175 electronic-mail messages opposing the ISDN rate increase were received in just three days last week.

The outpouring indicates the interest, and potential market, she said.

, DataTimes