01-2002
TDS Telcom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Columbia, S.C. - Philip S. Porter, Consumer Advocate for the State of South Carolina, announced that he was pleased with the approval today by the Public Service Commission (PSC) of a settlement agreement reached between the Consumer Advocate and TDS Telecom, which owns McClellanville Telephone Company, Norway Telephone Company, St. Stephen Telephone Company, and Williston Telephone Company. Under the agreement, local rates for those companies will be reduced, and prices for optional expanded calling plans will also be reduced.

Under the terms of the settlement, the companies will synchronize their basic rates for residential and business services. The basic residential rate for McClellanville Telephone customers will be reduced from $14.35 per month to $13.29 and the business rate will be lowered from $25.84 to $25.60 per month. For Norway Telephone customers, the residential rate will be reduced from $14.35 to $13.29 and the business rate goes from $26.06 to $25.60 per month. For Williston Telephone customers, the residential rate falls from $16.35 to $13.29, and the business rate moves from $28.70 to $25.60 per month. The rates for St. Stephen customers will not change, but the companies agreed to forego scheduled rate increases for those customers that had been previously approved by the PSC.

In addition, the requested rate for an optional expanded area calling plan called TDS TELECOM PLUS+, with an allowance of 480 minutes per month, will be lowered from $33.50 to $32.00 per month for residential customers and from $41.50 to $40.00 for business customers.

Porter stated "We applaud the PSC's approval of this agreement. Our review of the companies' finances, as well as the audit conducted by the Commission Staff, showed that we could bring lower basic rates and more affordable options for these customers."

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