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For Immediate Release
September 17, 2002

White Urges Residents to Cast Ballots In Effort to Expand Wesley Phone Service Area

Harrisburg (AP) – State Senator Mary Jo White (R-Venango) today urged residents in the Wesley telephone exchange to complete and return ballots on whether to extend the Wesley local calling service area to the City of Franklin.

The Wesley phone exchange is comprised of residents with a “786” exchange.  Currently, these residents must pay a toll to call Franklin, which is comprised of the 417,432,437 and 488 exchanges.  The Wesley exchange serves parts of Butler, Venango and Mercer counties.  If the ballot question is approved, Wesley residents will be able to call these exchanges toll-free.  In order to obtain an extended service area, business and residential phone customers will pay a slightly higher monthly phone bill ($1.23 per residential line; $4.30 per business line).  Businesses and residents making numerous toll calls to Franklin should realize a savings under the proposed change. 

Under state law, in order for the change to go into effect, at least 50% of the ballots distributed must be returned.  Of the ballots returned, at least 50% must vote in favor of extending the toll-free service area to Franklin.  The balloting process is a result of a settlement agreement struck between the Office of Consumer Advocate, local residents and Verizon North.  The Office of Consumer Advocate is a branch of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, and represents consumers in public utility matters.

“This process gives residents in the Wesley exchange a direct voice in deciding whether to extend their service area,” said White.  “I urge all residents to read this ballot carefully, make their decision and return the ballot as soon as possible.”

A Consumer Bulletin has been prepared by the Office of Consumer Advocate to provide additional information on the balloting procedure.  To obtain a copy of the Consumer Bulletin, residents are urged to contact the Office of Consumer Advocate at 1-800-684-6560 or Senator White’s district office at 814-432-4345.