
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 10, 1994                   TAG: 9409120055
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CALLING AREA EXPANSION IS URGED

A State Corporation Commission hearing examiner has recommended that the commission extend local telephone calling service in an area that includes Blacksburg, Shawsville and Salem.

But the examiner, Howard Anderson, said a similar request that would extend local calling in Pulaski, Dublin, Radford and Pearisurg should be turned down by the commission.

If the commission agrees with Anderson's recommendation, issued Friday, phone customers in Blacksburg, Salem and Shawsville will be able to call each other toll-free. Their rates for basic monthly telephone service would increase 73 cents.

Anderson said those who testified at local hearings on the proposal were overwhelmingly in favor of extending local calling among the three exchanges.

That was not the case when the SCC staff conducted hearings on Bell Atlantic's proposal to extend local calling among the Radford, Pulaski, Dublin and Pearisburg exchanges. Opponents came out strongly against the proposal and the Pulaski Board of Supervisors passed a resolution opposing it.

Anderson said there was a limited community of interest among the customers of those four exchanges, with no apparent link among schools, government offices, medical facilities or businesses.

Bell Atlantic made both proposals in October.

It will be up to the three-member commission to act on Anderson's recommendations.

- Staff report

by CNB