Phone Bills Rise $1 as FCC Charge Goes Into Effect

Residential telephone bills increased by $1 a month today nationwide, reflecting a new charge imposed by the Federal Communications Commission.

The $1 charge also applies to businesses with single telephone lines. Multiline business customers have paid a monthly charge of $4.78 per line since May, 1984.

Low-income Californians who qualify for subsidized “lifeline” service will pay 50 cents a month more.

The FCC imposed the new charge--which will double to $2 a month next June--to bring the local price of obtaining access to the nationwide long-distance network closer to actual costs. Pacific Bell contends that its current local rates cover only about a third of its cost.