Choosing your Telephone Service is not as complicated as it use to be.

The web has made shopping for and comparing phone services easier but there are things you should consider.

When looking at all the local phone and long distance phone plans available, take note of the many service options that include voice mail, call waiting, caller ID. So when deciding which plan best fits your phone needs, think about the following:

* When do you make most of your calls?

* How often do you make phone calls?

* Who do you call most often?

* Is Voicemail important to you?

* Is Caller ID important?

* Do you mind your callers getting a busy signal when you are on the phone?

RECENT NEWS about Local Phone Services

FCC Decision May Affect Your Local Phone Service! On February 20, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules for network unbundling obligations of incumbent local phone carriers.

One result of this decision is that you may get significantly lower monthly local phone service rates through discounts available from alternate competitive local phone service providers. These providers may utilize the same facilities and the same telephone lines and phone numbers that you now use today. Therefore, if you decide to transition your local phone service to one of these alternate local service providers, you can keep your same lines and phone numbers without requiring a new installation. For details of the FCC decision, visit the February 2003 headlines section of the FCC's web site.