Gte May Expand Local Calling

Sat., June 20, 1998

From Staff

GTE has proposed expanding toll-free calling between several small Idaho and Washington communities.

For an additional monthly fee, customers in Farmington, Tensed and Bluebell could call Plummer, Worley, Potlach or St. Maries without a long distance charge, and vice versa.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission is considering the proposal.

The proposal grew out of a request by residents in several of the communities.

The service would be optional for phone customers. It would raise monthly residential rates from $11.25 to $18 in Farmington, Bluebell and Tensed.

In Plummer and Worley, monthly residential rates would rise from $16.20 to $18.14 for customers choosing the service. Rates would increase from $15.25 to $15.64 in Potlach, and from $12.75 to $13.04 in St. Maries.

Idaho PUC is accepting written comments on its plans to decide on the matter without having public hearings. Comments should be sent to the PUC before July 9: Commission Secretary, Idaho Public Utilities Commission, P.O. Box 83720, Boise 83720-0074.

In an unrelated matter, the PUC approved an application from a Virginia company to offer local phone service.

LCI International Telcom Corp., will resell local phone service to residential and business customers in areas served by US West and GTE.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Gte May Expand Local Calling

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

This Idaho sheriff fought against mandatory ICE cooperation. Now he’s signing up

State sells 160 acres of Idaho endowment land near the Tetons to billionaire’s LLC for $5M

New Post Falls police chief brings stability, experience, city officials say