Rural Communities Offered Call Option

Residents of three Whitman County communities will get the option this summer of calling each other toll-free.

Washington regulators have approved a GTE plan that will let 14,000 customers decide whether they want to continue paying toll charges for inter-city calls, or pay a higher monthly bill to eliminate the toll charges.

Heavy users of long-distance among the communities could save under the new Premium Plus option, said Pullman area Manager Bruce Rowton.

Pullman and Palouse residents would pay $1 more per month per line to dial Garfield. Businesses would pay $1.50 more.

Garfield residents would pay $4.50 more to dial Pullman or Palouse. The additional charge for businesses would be $6.75.

GTE spokesman Bob Wayt said the tariff increases are larger for Garfield residents because they gain access to more customers when they call Palouse and Pullman than do residents of those communities who call Garfield.

Residents of the three towns will receive ballots explaining their options in late June. Ballot return is by July 9, and the billing changeover takes place July 26.

, DataTimes