AT&T; said it plans to cut long-distance...

AT&T; said it plans to cut long-distance rates on 1.6% April 1 to offset a 30-cent increase in local phone bills starting the same day. The changes will mark the last step in a cost shift ordered by the Federal Communications Commission that reduces prices that long-distance carriers pay local phone companies for completing calls while adding a monthly “subscriber line charge” to local bills. That charge will increase to $3.50 in April. The FCC must still approve AT&T;’s proposed plan for passing on its cost savings. AT&T; said rates for interstate calls traveling less than 292 miles would increase 4.7% under its plan “to bring prices more in line with costs.”