1.   Instead, they are to be shackled indefinitely to the burden of paying high toll charges which would not be tolerated in any other part of the country.

2.   And rural residents who use national Internet service providers like America Online or EarthLink often find themselves paying toll charges to call their access numbers.

3.   Local access lines are needed for users to tap into the Internet without a toll charge.

4.   Outside of that area, toll charges will apply.

5.   PHONE-RATE -- The California Public Utilities Commission approved higher basic telephone rates and a reduction in local toll charges.

6.   That means someone who phones a neighbor across the street must pay an out-of-state toll charge.

7.   The practice can be a lucrative one for foreign phone companies that, under international calling agreements, reap a portion of the toll charge for incoming telephone calls.

8.   Will each connection incur toll telephone charges?

9.   And that could result in long-distance or local toll charges filtering down to customers.

10.   As delivery over the Internet uses the most economical route, long distance and international toll charges are avoided.