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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 22, 1994                   TAG: 9411230059
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

POLL REVEALS SENTIMENT ON TOLL CHARGES

Phone customers in the Bedford exchange say they would be willing to pay higher monthly phone bills in return for toll-free, local calling privileges to Roanoke, the Virginia State Corporation Commission said Monday.

Similarly, customers in the Burnt Chimney exchange in Franklin County say they would be willing to pay more for local calling service to the Stone Mountain exchange in Bedford County.

The SCC had directed Bell Atlantic-Virginia to poll customers in the Bedford calling area on the prospect of eliminating toll charges on calls to Roanoke. In return, residential customers in Bedford would pay an additional $2.96 per month for their basic phone service.

Of 7,912 ballots mailed, 4,487 were returned; of those, 67.9 percent said they would be willing to pay more for the local service to Roanoke.

Roanoke customers also will be given a chance to comment on the extended local service plan once a cost study has been completed.

Also, 42.4 percent of the 3,801 ballots mailed to customers in the Burnt Chimney exchange of Sprint Centel-Virginia returned ballots. Of those, 56.9 percent said they would pay 98 cents more a month for local calling service to Stone Mountain.

Stone Mountain residents will have a chance to comment later when a cost study is done for that exchange.

The SCC will have the final say on whether the local-calling plans are eventually approved.

by CNB