{"id":1520,"date":"2016-10-19T15:16:55","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T20:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/?page_id=1520"},"modified":"2020-09-25T08:29:17","modified_gmt":"2020-09-25T13:29:17","slug":"telecom_realdealguideld","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/telecom_realdealguideld\/","title":{"rendered":"Real Deal Guide to Long Distance"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Real Deal Guide to Long Distance&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h6><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><ul class=\"icon \"><li><i class=\"fa fa-caret-right\"><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/RealDealGuideLongDistance.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>PDF version of this fact sheet<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/span><\/h6>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]There are three types of calls: local, local toll (a.k.a. local long distance) and long distance. A local call is to any place about 0-15 miles from your home. Local toll calls are roughly 16-40 miles away, or more. Any call beyond local toll\u2014to another region of Illinois or to another state\u2014is considered long\u00a0distance.<\/p>\n<p>Use <strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.att.com\/localcallingarea\/index.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AT&amp;T&#8217;s free online tool<\/a> <\/strong>to determine if a call is local, local toll or long distance. This guide covers calls beyond the 15-mile local region, which can be pricey. AT&amp;T and Frontier charge up to 17\u00a0cents per minute for local toll calls, and long-distance rates vary wildly, from two cents per minute to 20 cents per minute or\u00a0more.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Name That Call&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Actual distances for local, local toll and long-distance calls may vary depending on the area of Illinois, but <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NameThatCall.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this graphic<\/a><\/strong> gives estimates. Other phone companies define calls similar to AT&amp;T, the largest phone company in the\u00a0state.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699797969{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Are Your Options?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]<strong>Your local phone company<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Convenient.<br \/>\nCON: Expensive. Unlimited plans are often not worth the price for typical consumers, who only make a few hundred minutes of long-distance calls per month. Other long-distance plans can cost 10\u00a0cents a minute or more\u2014plus a monthly\u00a0fee.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A third-party long-distance carrier<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Inexpensive. Same call quality as a local\u00a0phone.<br \/>\nCON: Separate bill. Monthly fees tend to inflate\u00a0price.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Prepaid Calling Card<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Low prices.<br \/>\nCON: Hidden fees. Inconvenience of dialing extra\u00a0numbers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cellphone<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Potentially free. Most consumers have plenty of extra cellphone minutes left over each month (if not unlimited\u00a0minutes).<br \/>\nCON: Poorer call quality. Traditional cellphone plans can be\u00a0pricey.<\/p>\n<p><strong>VoIP (Vonage, Ooma, MagicJack, etc)<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Inexpensive (if you make a lot of long-distance\u00a0calls).<br \/>\nCON: Call quality can suffer. Must have high-speed Internet. May not work during a power outage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Internet Phone (Skype, Google Voice)<\/strong><br \/>\nPRO: Free (or very cheap). Video calling capabilities.<br \/>\nCON: Must have high-speed Internet. May not work during a power outage.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Finding the Right Plan&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]When searching for the right long-distance deal, there are a few questions you need to ask your provider. Make sure you are aware of the rates and any monthly fees or per-call surcharges, whether the company requires online signup or billing, whether the plan covers local toll calls (if that&#8217;s something you use often), whether there is a higher rate for in-state long-distance calls, and if the company will pick up any switching charges you have to pay to your previous\u00a0carrier.<\/p>\n<p>For prepaid calling cards, find out if there are any restrictions, such as an expiration date or no in-state calls; if there is a way to recharge the card (and if so, a fee to do so); and whether the card charges a lower rate if you use a &#8220;local access number&#8221; compared with using a toll-free access\u00a0number.<\/p>\n<p>Below are examples of long-distance options:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1524574504167{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-right: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;padding-left: 35px !important;background-color: #cccccc !important;}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"callbox\">\n<p><em><strong>Traditional long-distance<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Pioneer Telephone<\/strong><b>.<\/b> For AT&amp;T local \u201cRate Buster\u201d customers: 3.3-3.8\u00a2\/minute, $2.49\/month regulatory fee. (subject to quarterly changes). $1.99\/month fee if you choose paper billing AND make less than $20 of calls (fee waived if you choose online billing). Customers of other local phone companies may pay more. To sign up, call 1-800-808-9000.\u00a0<i>(<strong>Note<\/strong><b>:<\/b> Automatic credit card payments for all NEW customers. After six months, customers can opt out and pay by check or automatic deductions through their checking account.]<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Unless you have &#8220;slamming protection,&#8221; don&#8217;t call your local and\/or long-distance company to switch. Call Pioneer and it will do the switch for you. Questions? Call CUB, at 1-800-669-5556.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ECG<\/strong>. 2.5-3.5\u00a2\/minute, $1.99 monthly fee, $2.99\/month regulatory fee. Online billing only. To sign up, call 1-888-869-1141 or visit <strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ecg1.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ECG&#8217;s website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>AT&amp;T One Rate Nationwide Advantage<\/strong>. $5.99 per month with AT&amp;T local only, 7\u00a2 per minute for domestic direct-dialed long-distance. To sign up, call 1-800-288-2020, or visit <strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.att.com\/shop\/home-phone.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AT&amp;T&#8217;s website<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Prepaid Calling<\/em><br \/>\n<\/strong><strong>AT&amp;T Card<\/strong> (Sold by members-only Sam&#8217;s Club). Price varies. A 1500 minute card costs $49.98. To purchase a card, find your local <strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samsclub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sam&#8217;s Club<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>VoIP<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<strong>MagicJack Go<\/strong>. $35 One-time fee plus HSI and landline costs. To sign up, visit\u00a0<strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.magicjack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MagicJack&#8217;s website<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Internet phone<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n<strong>Google Voice<\/strong>. Must have Internet. One-time $20 fee to port your number. To sign up, visit the <strong><a class=\"bluebold\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/voice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Google Voice website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i>*Rates change often, so verify them with the company. Traditional long distance rates may vary outside of AT&amp;T\u2019s local phone territory. For more info, see the long-distance and international calculators on the <strong><span class=\"removed_link\" title=\"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/ciTelecom.html\">Telecom page<\/span><\/strong> at www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Real Deal Guide to Long Distance&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][vc_column_text] [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]There are three types of calls: local, local toll (a.k.a. local long distance) and long distance. A local call is to any place about 0-15 miles from your home. Local toll calls are roughly 16-40 miles away, or more. Any call beyond local toll\u2014to another region of Illinois or to another state\u2014is considered long\u00a0distance. Use AT&amp;T&#8217;s free online tool to determine if a call is local, local toll or long distance. This guide covers calls beyond the 15-mile local region, which can be pricey. AT&amp;T and Frontier charge up to 17\u00a0cents per minute for local toll calls, and long-distance rates vary wildly, from two cents per minute to 20 cents per minute or\u00a0more.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Name That Call&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Actual distances for local, local toll and long-distance calls may vary depending on the area of Illinois, but this graphic gives estimates. Other phone companies define calls similar to AT&amp;T, the largest phone company in the\u00a0state.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699797969{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;What Are Your Options?&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]Your local phone company PRO: Convenient. CON: Expensive. Unlimited plans are often not worth the price for typical consumers, who only make a few hundred minutes of long-distance calls per month. Other long-distance plans can cost 10\u00a0cents a minute or more\u2014plus a monthly\u00a0fee. A third-party long-distance carrier PRO: Inexpensive. Same call quality as a local\u00a0phone. CON: Separate bill. Monthly fees tend to inflate\u00a0price. Prepaid Calling Card PRO: Low prices. CON: Hidden fees. Inconvenience of dialing extra\u00a0numbers. Cellphone PRO: Potentially free. Most consumers have plenty of extra cellphone minutes left over each month (if not unlimited\u00a0minutes). CON: Poorer call quality. Traditional cellphone plans can be\u00a0pricey. VoIP (Vonage, Ooma, MagicJack, etc) PRO: Inexpensive (if you make a lot of long-distance\u00a0calls). CON: Call quality can suffer. Must have high-speed Internet. May not work during a power outage. Internet Phone (Skype, Google Voice) PRO: Free (or very cheap). Video calling capabilities. CON: Must have high-speed Internet. May not work during a power outage.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/6&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;custom&#8221; align=&#8221;align_left&#8221; css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1475699807900{background-color: #0f4b91 !important;}&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=&#8221;Finding the Right Plan&#8221; font_container=&#8221;tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left&#8221; use_theme_fonts=&#8221;yes&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=&#8221;5\/6&#8243;][vc_column_text]When searching for the right long-distance deal, there are a few questions you need to ask your provider. Make sure you are aware of the rates and any monthly fees or per-call surcharges, whether the company requires online signup or billing, whether the plan covers local toll calls (if that&#8217;s something you use often), whether there is a higher rate for in-state long-distance calls, and if the company will pick up any switching charges you have to pay to your previous\u00a0carrier. For prepaid calling cards, find out if there are any restrictions, such as an expiration date or no in-state calls; if there is a way to recharge the card (and if so, a fee to do so); and whether the card charges a lower rate if you use a &#8220;local access number&#8221; compared with using a toll-free access\u00a0number. Below are examples of long-distance options:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=&#8221;.vc_custom_1524574504167{padding-top: 35px !important;padding-right: 35px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;padding-left: 35px !important;background-color: #cccccc !important;}&#8221;] Traditional long-distance Pioneer Telephone. For AT&amp;T local \u201cRate Buster\u201d customers: 3.3-3.8\u00a2\/minute, $2.49\/month regulatory fee. (subject [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1520","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1520"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1520\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.citizensutilityboard.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}