Friday, January 08, 1999
Phone service area may expand
Vote would change rate in S. Lebanon
BY SHEILA McLAUGHLIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SOUTH LEBANON — It's not bad enough that Mark Harrison gets bumped off the Internet so his kids can use the phone.
But, those calls to friends just across town contribute to a residential phone bill of more than $150 a month.
“Everything costs me a fortune, especially when the kids are on. They talk all night,” said Mr. Harrison, who has lived in the village for a year and operates his Harrison Art Studio there.
Those hefty charges could shrink significantly within the year, as South Lebanon seeks toll-free calling for telephone customers in the village and parts of Union and Hamilton townships.
Ballots are being sent this week to more than 1,400 residences and businesses that share the 494 dialing prefix, asking for a vote on a flat-rate increase.
The trade-off: most residential customers will pay $2.10 more a month, but no toll charges to call Cincinnati and into Clermont County.
“We can't even call Hamilton Township now without making a toll call,” said Village Clerk Joe Owens.
The campaign to expand the telephone service area began about a year ago, when resident Sandra Whitson gathered hundreds of signatures on a petition, Village Solicitor Jack Quinn said. Mrs. Whitson could not be reached Thursday.
Impressed with her deter mination, the village took up the cause, petitioning the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to grant the request.
PUCO approved it after surveys showed telephone customers in the South Lebanon area monthly make more than 11 calls to Cincinnati exchanges and seven to eight calls to the Little Miami exchanges, which include communities south of the village and into Clermont County.
Those figures persuaded PUCO to order Cincinnati Bell and Sprint to expand services to the community, PUCO spokesman Dick Kimmins said.
“This is probably the most requested type of case before the commission,” he said. “Butler County and Warren County are frequent places where these cases originate, simply because of economic growth.”
This summer, Springboro received toll-free service to Dayton. In December, Mon roe was granted toll-free calling to Cincinnati and Hamilton.
PUCO requires a “substantial majority” of telephone customers to vote in favor of the rate increase for it to pass. While that term is discretionary, commissioners have passed the expansions with 60 percent or more of the vote, Mr. Kimmins said.
The South Lebanon ballots must be returned to the Village Hall by Jan. 11, or they automatically will count as a vote against the rate increase, Mr. Quinn said.
Mr. Harrison said he also pays about $600 a month for his business phone.
“I hate to see how much time it takes out of my life” to dial area codes, he said.
Reinstating 911 dispatcher is bad call
More snow, ice pelt region
Surviving the cold
City to double road-plowing force
Backup plan for child care vital in storm
Landlords charged after heat goes off
SNOW NOTEBOOK
Plea in Devin's case decried
Some Dems wary of plan to change city election
City investigating bills from contractor
County seeks way to recover money from PRO Seniors
Elder Cafe called drag on Findlay renewal
Three Sycamore seniors ace college-entrance exams
Affair of two lifetimes soured by estate fight
Center director debuts tonight
Charges pile up against Wal-Mart optometrist
Court won't hear NKU sexual-harassment case
Doctor plans community health fair
Firm to clean Fernald silo containing radioactive waste
Gang signs concern Boone County officials
Inmate gives jailer $200 thank-you
Mason schools seek substitute teachers
Middletown officers object to new shifts
Phone service area may expand
Schools assessment has praise for KERA
Suspect denies rape in Kings Island case
TRISTATE DIGEST
