AT&T; proposed to boost rates for private circuits.

The company proposed increasing rates for private business circuits by $290 million a year, effective Jan. 2, and said it will soon lower the price for international phone calls by $150 million a year. The private-line change, which is subject to approval by the FCC, will amount to a 7% increase in a business customer’s total monthly bill for private lines. Companies use AT&T;’s long-distance private lines to connect computers, telephones and other communications tools with similar equipment in other offices. AT&T; said the rates for dialed long-distance, WATS and 800 toll-free service will not be affected by the rate restructuring.