AT&T; to Raise Fees for Residential Customers

AT&T; Corp. said it would raise fees on residential customers by 72 cents per month while reducing per-minute rates for those not in discount calling plans. The fee increases are intended to cover a recent government-mandated hike in charges that phone companies pay to subsidize service in rural and low income areas. Regulators ordered the increase to pay for funding Internet connections for schools and libraries. Under AT&T;’s plan, which takes effect this week, fixed monthly fees for residential long-distance would rise to $2.50 from $1.78. Basic schedule rates would drop to 26 cents per minute from 28 cents during business hours and to 11 cents from 11.5 cents on weekends.