MCI to raise rates on calling plans

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- MCI Group will raise rates sharply on some calling plans starting next month as a way to steer customers to its more lucrative calling packages.
A spokeswoman for MCI parent WorldCom, Claire Hassett, said the price increase, which raises some per-minute rates to 9 cents from 5 cents, affects only a small percentage of MCI's 20 million customers. She declined to say what portion of customers would see the increases.