YOUNGSTOWN New rate plan removes toll charges

YOUNGSTOWN -- Sprint said four local calling routes will be among the first to have toll charges removed in its new rate restructuring plan.
Sprint is removing charges from more than 500 routes but said Monday that 66 of the route changes are being completed first. The elimination of tolls on the four local routes will be effective Aug. 7.
The local routes among the first group are:
U Berlin Center to Damascus and Salem.
U Greene to Andover and Kinsman.
U Hartford to Sharon.
U Kinsman to Greene and Jefferson.
There will be no rate increases for these calling areas so customers will not vote on whether to accept the changes.
Rate increases: In some areas, customers will be asked to vote. In these cases, Sprint is proposing monthly rate increases of between 45 cents and $1.10. It bills for monthly service based on the size of the local calling area.
Several local communities, including Warren, will be included in the groups that will be asked to vote. They are to receive notification later.
Sprint said in June that it was offering most of its Ohio local phone customers expanded local calling areas that would reach more neighboring communities and county seats. Being eliminated are local toll routes and extended local calling routes.
Sprint provides local phone service to 8.3 million customer lines in 18 states. In Ohio, it provides local service to 670,000 business and residential customers.