Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Interisland phone charge
covers higher service costsQuestion: Attached is my Verizon phone bill showing a $1.80 intrastate surcharge (Item 8). I have been told by Verizon's customer service that this monthly charge is a tax on my bill to help Verizon recover the cost of paying for the lines to the outer islands. I believe with the thousands of phones in service on all islands that Verizon and the Public Utilities Commission are taking advantage of the public. I do not have any need to call the outer islands, so why should I pay for a service I have not requested or need?
Answer: The surcharge is not only for the cost of interisland connections, but is meant to be an interim measure for Verizon to cover the increased costs of operations in general, according to Verizon Hawaii spokeswoman Ann Nishida.
The PUC allowed Verizon to apply the 11.23 percent surcharge in 1997 as a result of a 1995 general rate case "to cover the rising costs of providing telecommunication services in Hawaii," she said. It is applied to the total in-state charges on customers' bills, except for such surcharges as the 911 fee, she said.
Verizon opted for the surcharge as an "interim" measure rather than increasing the rates for individual services, such as the residential line rate, Nishida said. In 1999, Verizon did propose folding the surcharge into specific rates, but that was denied by the PUC.
However, "the surcharge will be rolled into the individual rates for the various services we offer at some point in the future," she said. Exactly when that might be is not known. The PUC has to approve any restructuring of the phone rates.
In its defense, Nishida said the last general rate increase Verizon made before 1997 was in 1986 and that "every year, Verizon makes significant investments to upgrade and maintain our network, which ultimately benefits our customers."
Q: I have a question regarding Longs Drugs: Are they individual franchisees?
A: No. Longs is one of the top 10 drug chains in the nation, with 438 stores in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, according to the Longs Drug Stores Web site, www.longs.com.
It has been a publicly held company since 1961 and traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1971.
The company was founded in 1938 by brothers Joe and Tom Long.
Auwe
For the past few months, I've been observing westbound cars already on Moanalua Freeway entering the Stadium-Halawa-Camp Smith cutoff to make a left turn at the light to get back into the westbound H-1 freeway. Don't these people understand plain English? A sign clearly states NO LEFT TURN between 3:30 and 6 p.m. However, while waiting at the top of Moanalua Freeway recently, I estimate a dozen or more cars entered this cutoff just to get in front and/or ahead to avoid traffic. It ticks me off every time seeing these people abusing the system. Why can't the HPD patrol that area during the busiest time of day? It would put me and others, I'm sure, at peace to see those impatient drivers get a citation. -- Beverly
Mahalo
About a year ago, I complained to "Kokua Line" about the potholes on Kaneohe Bay Drive. I want to thank the people responsible for paving Kaneohe Bay Drive from Mokapu Saddle Road down. The road is so smooth and nice, I swear I can fall asleep while my husband is driving. -- No Name
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com