In an effort to provide some immediate relief to departments as they cope with the current financial crisis, IST is reducing the cost of basic telephone services. Effective September 1, 2009, the portion of the phone bill for basic dial tone will be lowered by approximately 20 percent. The cost reduction will be reflected in the September IST Bill Statement and Summary, available at the beginning of October.
| Dial tone service | Per month rate | Per month rate effective September 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard lines without features (fax modem) |
$17.30 | $13.80 |
| Standard lines with features | $19.10 | $15.30 |
| Electronic lines with features | $20.30 | $16.20 |
| ISDN lines | $23.10 | $18.50 |
IST is in the process of moving to new technologies for delivery of traditional voice service and exiting the long-standing AT&T-based CENTREX offering that has supported the campus for the past 20 years (see UC Berkeley and LBNL team up to provide less expensive voice service for the campus). We anticipate measurable savings to each department in the various aspects of voice services as a result of the change, but the full financial analysis has not been completed.
The September rate change is being made in advance of service and contract changes and reflects projected operating cost reductions as well as the current financial picture. The reduction will remain in place until service and contract changes are complete and a new rate is approved, at which time a formal announcement will be issued through normal communication channels. Additional information related to service changes within voice services will be provided in the coming months.