AUGUSTA (AP) – Local calling areas will grow next month for many telephone customers in Maine. Many customers also will see bigger monthly bills. The Maine Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday approved changes designed to ensure that all state residents have access to a calling plan that allows them to make toll-free calls to neighboring towns.

At the same time, however, monthly local phone rates will rise to compensate phone companies for the loss of toll revenues. The rate changes depend on the local telephone company. For example, customers of small telephone companies could see their monthly bills increase by $9 a month in exchange for a bigger local calling area.

Under the Verizon rate structure, rates for customers will rise $3.30 a month for customers in the smallest exchanges, while rates for many Verizon customers in large exchanges will remain about the same. The rate structure was crafted so that phone companies would receive the same compensation as before.

AP-ES-11-13-03 1500EST