The president of the Compañia Dominicana de Telephonos (CODETEL), Ernest Burri, announced that cost of local telephone calls will rise in December, while saying, at the same time, that the long distance rates will be slightly reduced in the same month. The new increase will result in a difference of between RD$50.00 and RD$60.00, said Mr. Burri, who also explained that it was part of “adjustments” made every six months in accordance with the government’s initiative to “balance” telephone service rates between local and long distance calls. For years, local telephone costs were comparatively low, as they were subsidized by the high long distance rates.