BILLINGS, Mont., January 27, 1999 --
MCI WorldCom is striking up competition in Montana's local toll
calling market. Beginning in February, consumers will be able to choose
their local toll carrier just like they choose a long-distance provider
today.
For the first time, consumers who live in areas of the state where U
S West provides local phone service will be able to select a company
other than U S West to automatically carry their local toll calls.
Previously, in order to choose another carrier, consumers had to dial a
cumbersome access code before placing these calls.
Competition Brings Lower Rates
"Now, consumers have a choice," said Joyce Dorris, MCI
WorldCom director of brand marketing. "Beginning in February, MCI
One Savings residential long-distance customers who live in Montana can
enjoy a low rate of just nine cents per minute on their local toll
calls during evenings and weekends, which is a 22% savings over U S
West's standard rates."
Local toll calls, also referred to as local long-distance calls or
intraLATA calls, are the calls within a Local Access Transport Area
(LATA) in the state of Montana, yet are outside of the local calling
area. For example, calls from Billings to Bozeman or from Great Falls
to Missoula are local toll calls. Charges for these calls are not
included in a consumer's monthly charge for local phone service.
These types of calls generally are itemized on phone bills as local
long-distance or local toll calls.
Montana Is In Good Company
Historically, local toll calls were solely handled by local telephone
monopolies, but competition has gradually taken hold across much of the
country with the entry of companies like MCI WorldCom into this market.
Consumers are seeing lower prices and other benefits of competition
with the advent of choice.
By February 9, consumers in Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Louisiana,
Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Washington will be able to
pre-select their local toll provider for the first time -- joining the
20 states that already have local toll presubscription available for
all their consumers.
"We applaud the pro-competitive stance of the Montana Public
Service Commission and look forward to the day when every state allows
consumers to choose their local toll provider," said Dorris.
Consumers are invited to call 1-800-754-3002 to sign up for MCI
WorldCom's local toll rates.
MCI WorldCom
MCI WorldCom is a global communications company with revenue of more
than $30 billion and established operations in over 65 countries
encompassing the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. MCI
WorldCom is a premier provider of facilities-based and fully integrated
local, long distance, international and Internet services. MCI
WorldCom's global networks, including its state-of-the-art
pan-European network and transoceanic cable systems, provide end-to-end
high-capacity connectivity to more than 38,000 buildings worldwide. For
more information on MCI WorldCom, visit the World Wide Web at
www.mciworldcom.com
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