The cost for local phone service is generally between $30 and $35 per month for a residential customer. This includes any 911 charges, state and local taxes, fees, and the cost for monthly service. Business service varies based on the class of service, but starts at $35 per month.

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, “universal service” means basic telephone service is available to all consumers. Universal service is voice grade access to the telecommunications network, including local usage, touchtone calling, single-party service, access to emergency 911 services, access to operator service, access to qualifying low- income consumers. All of these services are available from Red River Communications

in these areas: In ND – Abercrombie, Barney, Colfax, Fairmount, Great Bend, Hankinson, Lidgerwood, Mantador, Mooreton and Wyndmere; In MN – Barnesville rural, Kent and Rollag; In SD – South Lidgerwood.

2019 charges for these universal services are:

• Local residential service
  • $18/month (Rates vary by exchange and EAS charges may apply)
• Touchtone calling
  • No charge
• Single-party service
  • No charge
• Access to 911 service
  • No charge (Local government assesses a tax to pay for special equipment.)
• Access to operator services
  • No charge
• Access to directory assistance
  • $.60/call for local info (If you call a long distance company for DA, that company may charge for its services.)
• Access to long distance telephone companies
  • $6.50/month (Flat rate prescribed by federal agency)
• Low-income discounts
  • $9.25/month
• Toll-blocking
  • No charge

 

Our company is a cooperative and requires an application not only to establish telephone service, but also to obtain information so we can pay you capital credits in the future.

Steps to Establish Telephone Service:
(1) You may complete the application and return it to our office or call or stop in at the business office to complete the application.
(2) If you haven’t had service with our company before, a simple credit check is done to determine if a deposit is required. See below for information about credit checks and deposits.

CREDIT CHECK:
A credit check is processed with your permission and only takes a few minutes. You supply the following information for the credit check:
(1) Your first, middle and last name
(2) Your social security number or the EIN for a business
(3) Your date of birth

 

Depending on the credit check results, a deposit may be required.

DEPOSITS:
The deposit amount varies depending upon the type of service(s) you want:

(1) Local telephone service – $50
This service allows you to place local calls only. Other types of calls are NOT permitted, including toll-free (800, 888, 877, 866) or operator-assisted (0+) calls. You are not able to accept collect calls.

(2) Local, long distance & 1-800 service – $100

This service allows you to place any type of local or long distance calls, subject to your own restrictions.

(3) Additional deposits may apply for cellular, wireless, high-speed Internet, or other services. Deposit amounts will vary.

MORE ABOUT DEPOSITS:
Deposits are held for a minimum of one year. Interest is earned on the deposit amount in accordance with the state public utilities commission requirements.

After one year, your account is reviewed. If the account has had no 30-day balances, past-due notices, disconnects for non-payment or NSF charges, the deposit with interest will be refunded in the form of a check. Any deposit refunded in the form of a check will be made payable to the person or business whose name is on the account.

If your account contains any of the items listed above, the deposit will continue to be held until the account has not received any treatment for 12 continuous months. Interest earned will be credited annually to the customer’s account.

When all services are permanently disconnected, approximately two billing cycles may pass (in order for any additional toll charges to be received) before the deposit and interest will be refunded. Any outstanding balances or uncollectable amounts will be deducted from the deposit before it is refunded.

(1) Check all telephone cords – from jack to telephone base and from telephone base to the handset – make sure they are not loose or damaged.
(2) Hang up all telephones. Make sure all equipment is working – answering machines, fax machines, Caller ID boxes, computer modems, and telephone sets.
(3) To check, unplug each piece of equipment from the phone jack and the electrical outlet. Leave everything unplugged for 5 minutes. Then try plugging in a corded phone. If you have dial tone again, plug in each piece of other equipment one item at a time to determine which piece of equipment is disrupting your service.
(4) If the problem remains, call Red River Communications to report trouble with your line.
– If you are subscribed to Wire Maintenance service, it covers any problems with wiring and jacks inside your home.
– A service call may be charged if customer-owned equipment is the source of the problem.

(1) Try using a different telephone.
(2) Call Red River to assist you in determining the source of the problem.

(1) Check all telephone cords – from jack to telephone base and from telephone base to the handset – make sure they are not loose or damaged. Check that all your computer connections are secure.
(2) If the problem remains, call Red River Communications to report trouble with your telephone line or Internet service. A technician may need to clear the problem because these services operate on different frequencies.