Cable Phone Sticker Shock

Discount pricing is a major reason why consumers switch from ILECs to cable for local and long distance telephone service.

Imagine my surprise when the call detail records (CDRs) on my latest bill from Cox Communications Inc. showed long distance charges for two lines ringing in at $29,002.50 and $103,502.50 for the month.





That's right, a grand total of 202 minutes of long distance calling for only $655.96 a minute. So much for the triple-play bundle savings!

Fortunately, the CDR numbers didn't roll on to the actual billing statement.

The total would have landed a smidge beyond my credit card limit.

— Michael Harris, Chief Analyst, Cable Digital News