mdurkin
join:1999-08-11
San Bruno, CA
| reply to theRG
Re: Pre-sale Question
AT&T Metro Plan is not a phone line, it is an add-on to a local phone line that you can buy in order to get ZUM 3 calling (13-16 miles from the rate center your phone line is served by) for a flat-fee. It's like a long distance plan for a particular type of outbound call. Normally on a flat-rate local calling phone line, zones 1 and 2 (0-12.99 miles) are included, and Zone 3 is a per-minute cost. Local Toll starts at 16+ miles. You can pick another long distance carrier to handle your local toll calls with 1+ dialing, but you cannot pick an alternate default provider for zone 3 calls (though you can use a dial around code).
If you want to get the bare minimum phone service, you want a Measured residential phone line which in AT&T territory in California should quote at about $5.70/mo, but is really more like $12-14/mo after taxes and fees. A Measured rate line has per-minute fees for all outbound calls, even local. It includes a $3/mo outbound usage credit which can be used towards zone 1 through 3 calls. Inbound calls are free, and local toll and long distance are not affected. You can also save on the activation of your phone line by ordering it at www.att.com since AT&T has been crediting the $40 activation fee as a bonus for ordering online instead of calling in. You'd want to be careful to select measured residential service, and not select any options because they'll try to sell you all sorts of extra services; of course decline DSL if you want to order from DSLExtreme. Note activation doesn't include inside wiring. Potentially you may need to adjust inside wiring at the phone box to make jacks work in your house, although often the first line at a residence winds up activating the jacks too without being rewired.
If you have low enough income, you could also get universal lifeline phone service, which costs about half what a regular line costs. |
