Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, October 20, 1998
Kokua Line
Why are GTE Hawaiian Tel customers still being charged a monthly fee, disclosed as a line item on residential phone bills and hidden in commercial accounts, for touch-tone service? GTE converted from the antiquated analog switch system to digital equipment in most areas of Hawaii as long as 10 years ago, reportedly saving tens of millions of dollars a year in operating costs, to say nothing of enormous increases in profits. Kokua Line previously quoted GTE as saying it wanted to cancel the charge but that the Public Utilities Commission has refused to allow a rate hike since 1986. Is the PUC permitting GTE to maintain this surcharge, on a system long since converted, to underwrite some other nondisclosed operating cost of the company or in lieu of rate increases the PUC is otherwise unwilling to grant? Touch-tone service may
fold into basic chargesThe short status report is: The PUC is continuing to review GTE's request to fold the cost of touch-tone service into its basic local charges as part of a comprehensive rate restructuring proposal. It's a complicated process, a PUC engineer said. A decision may be made next year.
A statewide digital-switching equipment now provides the service much more efficiently and at less cost, agreed GTE spokesman Keith Kamisugi.
GTE wants to eliminate the touch-call monthly fee ($1.65) as a separate line item from residential bills because it is no longer considered a premium item. Instead, Kamisugi said, it's needed for many other functions, including call-answering machines, and banking and shopping by phone.
GTE wants "to bring our rates more in line with the cost of providing service," something it "considers essential as the market opens to competition," he said. It wants to raise basic rates from $14.40 to $19.80 a month.
PUC engineer Ron Nakanishi said touch-call service used to be provided by using an extra piece of equipment attached to an electrical/mechanical switch. Although the service is now provided as part of GTE's central office switching equipment, "it still costs something," he said. Exactly how much is what needs to be determined, along with other factors.
But "it's very difficult to agree on separation of cost" -- how much of a charge should be allocated to basic rates and how much to a separate service, for example, Nakanishi said.
Complicating this process is that some of the services are competitive, Nakanishi said, so "if you do not price it correctly," a competitor will obviously be penalized.
"It's complicated by allocation and complicated by competition," he said.
My dad retired after 40 years of medical practice in July 1997. His financial planner said it would take years for him to get his pension. Is there any law that says how soon after you retire you should receive your pension?
Call the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration in Washington, D.C.: 1-800-998-7542. Ask for the free pamphlets, "What You Should Know About Your Pension Rights" and "Protect Your Pension: A Quick Reference Guide."
You can also get information on the federal Internet web site: www.dol.gov/dol/pwba/public/pubs/protect/guidetoc.htm.
To a young lady who stopped to assist two elderly ladies when our '85 T-Bird's battery died on the airport viaduct on Sept. 18. Mahalo also to motorcycle Officer Cluney who pushed our car out of the blazing sun and stayed with us until a family member arrived with a new battery. -- Mildred Baker and Matsumi Hoshino Mahalo
For billing questions at GTE Hawaiian Tel, call 643-3343. A wrong number was printed Saturday. Correction
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
