Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 September 1960 — Page 16

The National Jewish POST and OPINION

Friday, September 2, i960

to oo away wiTH-Long Distance charges on most telephone calls within a 1600 square mile Metropolitan Area. to PROVIDE-City telephone service in rural sections. to introduce-DIRECT DISTANCE DIALING for better Long Distance service throughout the nation. MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR IMPROVEMENTS WILL TAKE TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE Telephone planning must be forward-looking, preparing now to serve a million people who soon will be living in our rapidly growing Metropolitan Area. Here is our plan to provide the kind of service people will want, and should have if Indianapolis and surrounding communities are to continue to expand and develop during the Sixties. It’s a big project. Indiana Bell stands ready to invest as much as 47 million dollars more in this area by the time METROPLAN is complete—if it meets the approval of the general public and regulatory authorities.

SCHEMATIC DRAWING OF 1600 SQUARE MILE CALLING AREA—METROPLAN, as we visualize it, would remove long distance charges on most telephone calls within this entire area. In the outer circle of towns are several that are served by other telephone companies which may participate if and when they wish. Calls would go through on a local basis between all telephones in Indianapolis and others about 24 miles out in all directions. Long distance charges would be removed also on calls between surrounding communities up to 18 miles apart, and participating exchanges in the 2nd tier would also call adjacent exchanges beyond the circle.

MORE CONVENIENT AND VALUABLE As a city and its surrounding communities spread out, telephone calls increase, and people want to call back and forth over much larger areas. We have found that removal of long distance charges between neighboring areas with interests in common is a stimulant to business and to social life. Telephone conversations increase by six to ten times when they can be made as local calls. CALLING AREAS HAVE GROWN Ten years ago, an Indianapolis telephone user could make a local call to any telephone within a 270 square mile area—a very large range even then. Since then, we have linked the first tier of communities—on the sketch in the circle—to a large part of the city including the downtown section. We have also linked neighboring communities together on a local calling basis. 1600 SQUARE MILES BY ’62 We plan by 1962 to more than double the area in which most calls can be made without long distance charges. Indiana Bell serves all communities in the first tier. Some in the second tier are served by other telephone companies, and we are inviting their participation in METROPLAN, although the Plan is not contingent upon their participation. If and when the other telephone companies join us, every telephone user served by telephone offices in roughly a 48-mile-wide circle would be able to calfany one of nearly half a million telephones without a long distance charge.

INTRODUCING D.D.D. The newest and the best way of making long distance calls is to dial them much as you now dial local calls. By dialing “1” you would have the DDD equipment at your service. A three-digit area number would take you to the state or area you want, and then you simply dial the telephone number of the person you are calling. For central Indiana you have only to dial 1 and then the local number. It’s very fast and easy. You would be able to dial direct any one of about 80 million telephones in the United States and Canada.

LOCAL TELEPHONE RATES WOULD BE RECLASSIFIED The monthly rate for telephone service depends upon the size of the local calling area, how many telephone users can be reached without a long distance charge. As this new and larger calling area is created, local service rates would be reclassified 5 in'twO'Sfceos-

ABOUT JUNE OF 1961, we expect to link five additional communities with parts of Indianapolis. We would add two of these communities to the local calling area of each Indianapolis telephone. At that time, the charge for extension telephones, service connections and other “one-time” services, and the rates for some miscellaneous services furnished principally to business firms, would be reclassified. This would add 15£ to the monthly rate for residence extension telephones in the Metroplan area (20ff for business extensions) and an average of about 10% to the other items mentioned. Indianapolis rates would apply in communities that will be able to call Indianapolis without a long distance charge. TWO YEARS FROM NOW, in 1962, when Metroplan is substantially complete. Metropolitan Service rates would be established for all Bell telephones that can call Indianapolis and neighboring towns without toll charge. Basic residence service would be about 10% above present Indianapolis rates —from 40 cents to 65 cents more a rrfonth, depending upon class of service; $1.65 more for most business lines.

As this whole metropolitan area continues to grow in population, more and more people will be wanting to make calls to places where long distance charges now apply. With all these calls on a local basis, their telephone bills will be less than if present rates were continued.

CITY SERVICE FOR RURAL RESIDENTS

Several thousands of telephone users are now served by eight-party rural lines in outlying sections of Indianapolis and the other communities within the Metropolitan Area. Several thousands more are now paying a “mileage” charge for city service in rural territory. We plan to provide city grades of, service in all rural sections served by Indianapolis telephone offices. Present “mileage” charges would be eliminated. In rural areas of other communities served by us we would provide one, two, or four-party service, reasonably priced on a zone basis, according to distance from town.

iNDiAMA Bell Telephone Company