THE GULF WAR: The Home Front : Phone Bills: Reaching Out

Telephone calls from U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf are helping ease emotional stress for families back home but causing a financial strain for some. AT&T; set up about 1,000 SPECIAL PHONES in Saudi Arabia last fall, but unfamiliarity with the way the calls are being billed has left some confusion. Callers using the special phones get direct access to an AT&T; operator. Then, those using telephone credit cards pay a $2.50 service charge, $3.19 for the first minute and $1.15 for each additional minute. That adds up to about $16 for a 10-minute call while a 10-minute collect call costs about $19. AT&T; has a toll-free number for help in working out problems with bills: 1-800-323-HELP.