Long Distance
Toll Choices

Selecting a long distance carrier can be confusing. In 1996, the Federal Telecommunications Act was passed inviting competition among providers of telephone service. The new competitive environment has generated several long distance options which, on one hand, has made long distance pricing more competitive but, on the other hand, more puzzling.

Telecommunications customers should shop for the calling programs which most closely match the calling services they need. For example, it does not make sense to subscribe to a low rate per minute program that has a high monthly fee if you do not call long distance frequently.

Equal Access
Crossville customers have the choice of any long distance carrier who has service through Crossville Communications. We will be glad to analyze your long distance needs to make your long distance carrier choice less puzzling. To help you understand your choices, we have outlined the following explanation.

LATAs
There are 18 geographically Market Service Areas (MSAs) in Illinois. MSAs are also referred to as LATAs (Local Access and Transport Areas).

IntraLata or Local Toll Calling
Before 1996, Crossville customers were assigned a carrier (GTE) for those calls falling outside of Crossville but within the LATA. For example, calls placed from Crossville to Carmi were once carried by GTE. You may now pre-select any long distance company for intraLATA calls.

InterLATA or Long Distance
InterLATA refers to calls placed to locations outside of your LATA. These calls range from calls to other LATAs in Illinois, to other states (interstate), and international (outside of the United States).

Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) Freeze: Freezing Your Carrier Choices
You may place a restriction or freeze on your intraLATA and interLATA carrier choices to prevent them from being changed without your authorization. Contact Crossville Communications at 966-2196 to authorize the freeze. There is no charge for this service. To lift the restriction, you will need to contact the telephone company to make a carrier change and then you may place the restriction back on your service.

Primary Interexchange Carrier (PIC) Change Fee
Crossville Communications charges a $15 fee to change long distance or local toll carriers. Most carriers will pay up to $10 to offset the PIC Change fee; however, if you are dissatisfied with the carrier’s rates or service and want to switch back to your previous carrier or to another carrier, the fee is again imposed.

If you find that your long distance service has been changed without your authorization, you may contact Crossville Communications at 618.966.2196 or the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Consumer Services Division online via e-mail at consumer@icc.state.il.us or toll free at 1.800.524.0795.

Toll Choices