"Most schools charge a 'technology fee' that may cover the cost of provisioning basic phone lines, wiring, network support," Kinchla says. "Harvard has really tried not to do this, instead preferring to recover the
cost of services by charging those who use them."
As a result, if the University is to cover the cost of rewiring with a smaller and smaller number of long distance phone users, it must charge greater surcharges.
Kinchla says she also worries that less favorable contract offers from telecommunications companies will lead to rate hikes.
Harvard negotiates a new contract for a minimum number of minutes roughly once a year with outside telecommunications vendors.
Currently, students can choose from three long-distance plans, provided by Worldcom.
Plan A is a traditional plan, with higher rates during the day--25 cents per minute--and lower rates during the evening and weekends. Plan B is 12 cents per minute, all day. And Plan C is eight cents a minute, all day, with a $5.95 monthly charge.
While Kinchla says these rates are competitive with those offered by traditional long-distance providers like MCI and WorldCom, she adds that these rates may rise this school year, when a new contract with Worldcom goes into effect.
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