AT&T; Seeks Rate Hike for ‘Short’ Long-Distance Calls

NEW YORK — American Telephone & Telegraph asked Thursday for permission to raise rates by up to 26.7% for long-distance interstate calls between parties less than 55 miles apart.

The company said the increases would generate $74 million annually in revenue and would affect about 13% of its long-distance traffic.

In a filing with the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T; said it wanted to make the following rate changes effective April 26:

- For a call of one to 10 miles, the day rate for the initial minute would increase 26.7% to 38 cents from 30 cents. The rate for each additional minute would be increased to 19 cents from 15 cents.

- For a call from 11 to 22 miles, the day rate for the initial minute would be raised 21.1% to 46 cents from 38 cents. The rate for each additional minute would be hiked to 25 cents from 21 cents.

- For a call from 23 to 55 miles, the day rate for the initial minute would rise 13.3% to 51 cents from 45 cents. The rate for each additional minute would be raised to 30 cents from 26 cents.

The rates would be discounted during the evening and night-weekend periods by 40% and 60%, respectively, the company said.

At the same time, the company said it expects to reduce all interstate long-distance rates on June 1 when residential and single-line customers begin paying their local telephone companies a $1-a-month local subscriber line charge.