Local Rural Phone Companies
Q.I am served by one of Maine’s independent rural phone companies – can I switch my local service?
A. No. Smaller telephone companies were granted an exemption from local competition in the federal 1996 Telecommunications Act. Under that law, no local competition is allowed unless the PUC finds that it would be in the public interest. So far, no local service competitor has asked to serve in Maine’s rural telephone exchanges.
The companies are listed below. Follow this link to see current telephone rates.
|
Name/Phone/Website
|
Business
or
Residential
|
Monthly Rates Per Line
(excluding surcharges & taxes)
|
Notes
|
|
AT&T One Rate
(800) 205-6268
http://www.att.net
|
R
|
$33
Unlimited plan also available
|
2 features
|
|
BCN Telecom
(888) 484-5454
http://www.bcntele.com
|
B & R
|
B - $26-$30 per line*
R - $18.33 per line
|
*Depending on customer location
|
|
Excel
(877) 668-0808
http://www.excel.com
|
R
|
$35* with 3 features
(Requires Excel long distance)
|
*depending on location and long-distance plan.
Includes 100 LD minutes
|
|
Mid-Maine
(877) 643-6246
http://www.midmaine.com
|
B & R
|
B - $26-$32*
(depending on contract length)
R - $50-local/DSL bundle
|
Selected exchanges
*No added line charge
|
|
One Communications
(800) 825-5282
http://www.onecommunications.com
|
B
|
$31 to $34 per line
(depending on contract length)
|
Throughout Verizon territory
|
|
Oxford
(800) 520-9911
http://www.oxfordnetworks.com
|
B & R
|
R - $16.63-$19.72*
B - $31.28-$40.34*
|
Norway/South Paris
(Unlimited plans also available)
*No added line charge
|
|
R - $25 ($31.90 with features)*
B - $28-$32 depending on number of lines & bundled services*
|
Lewiston/Auburn
Business service available in various exchanges
(Unlimited plans also available)
*No added line charge
|
|
PineTree
(866) 746-3873
http://www.pinetreenetworks.com
|
B
|
$25-$35 per line*
|
Selected exchanges
*No added line charge
|
|
Telrite
(866) 285-3989
http://www.telrite.com
|
B & R
|
$25-$35 (depending on contract length)
|
Throughout Verizon territory
|
|
USA Telephone
(877) 872-2800
http://www.savewithusa.com
|
B & R
|
R - $25-$30 (depending on area)
B - $37-$40 per line
|
Local service bundled with 2.9¢ instate and interstate LD minutes and 6 features
|
Compare Verizon’s Local Rates: Res.—$17.79 economy, $19.29 premium; Bus.—$35.38 economy, $38.49 premium
*No added line charge saves $6.50/month.
