June 21, 2007

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today announced that telephone customers can now compare phone companies' rates for low-cost primary basic telephone service on the MPSC web site.

"Telephone customers can now easily compare rates for affordable, primary basic telephone service available in their area - something that will be of great interest to those on tight budgets," noted MPSC Chairman J. Peter Lark.

The Michigan Telecommunications Act of 2005 requires phone companies to offer a low cost primary basic telephone service to customers.

The Primary Basic plan includes:

• 100 out-going calls per month.
  
  
• 12,000 minutes of outgoing telephone usage.
  
  
• Unlimited incoming calls.

The Primary Basic plan does not include:

• special features such as caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, etc. (These features may be added for an additional cost.)
  
  
• fax calls or calls to a dial-up Internet provider.

The MPSC's Web site makes it easy to compare rates for primary basic local service: michigan.gov/mpsc.