Calling Card Rules Change As Deregulation Kicks In

Users of AT&T calling cards are no longer automatically connected with that carrier when they pick up a pay phone.

As of Sunday, AT&T cardholders must dial a special access number, 1-800-CALL-ATT, to get to a company operator.

Previously, dialing 0 reached an operator who would connect the caller with AT&T. No more.

“This was our choice,” said AT&T spokeswoman Sarah Duisik, who noted the company has been terminating its contracts with regional telephone companies over the last two years.

US West Communications was among the last to go, she said.

Duisik said AT&T customers in other parts of the country have had little trouble with the transition.

The long-distance carrier still accepts calls from users of other cards, she said, and the change does not affect holders of pre-paid calling cards.

A month ago, US West launched a long-distance calling card in conjunction with Frontier Communications. US West is not yet licensed to provide long-distance service.

Users of the new card, or the AT&T card, connect with the company by dialing 1-800-4USWEST.

Deregulation of the telecommunications industry has intensified telephone company efforts to differentiate their services, including calling cards.

, DataTimes