Telephone Service

Comparing Telephone Rates

For today’s telephone customers, what was once a simple bottom-line comparison – i.e., comparing one carrier’s rates to the rates of another -- has now become a much more challenging task. In recent years, the FCC regulations involving long-distance service and toll carriers have been relaxed. Toll carriers can now add charges without much oversight. Some carriers may include fees or charges that are not included in their advertised prices. Often these charges are difficult to identify before a customer signs up.

When considering local telephone and long-distance services, we recommend asking each carrier for the actual bill total prior to signing up. The rates shown online are often base rates for service and do not include any additional taxes or fees. The true total should include all taxes, surcharges, and fees associated with the carrier’s various plans. If a carrier can’t or won’t provide this information, it’s a good sign you should take your business elsewhere.

All providers offer feature all providers
Some providers offer feature some providers
None of the providers offer feature no providers

Feature Landline Wireless Cable VOIP
911 all providers all proivders all providers some providers
E911 all providers some providers all providers some providers
Service continues in power outage? all providers some providers some providers some providers
Service contract required some providers some providers all providers some providers
White page listing all providers no providers all providers no providers
Vision/Hearing Impaired All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature
Lifeline service All providers offer feature Some providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature
Keep your old number with new service All providers offer feature Some providers offer feature All providers offer feature Some providers offer feature
Unlimited long distance plans available Some providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature
Unlimited local plans available All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature
Caller ID, Voicemail, Call waiting and other features All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature All providers offer feature
Use while traveling None of the providers offer feature All providers offer feature no providers All providers offer feature
Internet connection required None of the providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature All providers offer feature
Service quality overseen by the Maine Public Utilities Commission Some providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature None of the providers offer feature

 

Local Residential Telephone Service

For a map showing service provide territories, please visit the Maine Public Utilities Commission