Are our telephone rates too low?

THE EDITOR: I’ve made an observation that has forced me to conclude that TSTT rates are definitely too low. My observation is based on the many call-in programmes on our radio stations and TV channels. Yes, I’ve heard the odd sensible question that enlightened me about the FTAA or the Police Reform Bill, and I believe that offering prize incentives to children for correct spelling is a very good idea. But for the most part, the calls are inane and vacuous and reflect a density and ignorance on the part of the majority who seem keen merely on hearing their voices on the air. This is apart from those whose sole aim is to foment divisiveness whether such be political, racial or religious. But that’s one great danger of these call-in programmes that I’m sure someone will take up — hopefully because it gets out of hand.

My problem is with those who call in seemingly because they have nothing else to do or because it is too cheap to make a phone call. What is the point of making a call to tell the whole of Trinidad good morning? What is the sense in calling to wish your spouse ‘happy birthday’ when, as one caller put it, “he’s sitting down right there watching me”? Why call when you know that the host will insult you if he does not agree with your opinion? Many callers simply refuse to turn off the volume on their sets and when they hear the annoying feedback they ask the host to hold on please — of course all the while running down their money. Some spend so much time celebrating the fact that they’ve got through at last that they are cut off before they can make their contribution.

Some callers know that if they disagree with a certain host they will be interrupted and insulted so they simply call to agree with whatever he says. If, as is often the case, the host changes his mind on the following Sunday, the same callers would call in and agree with the new opinion! One host asks listeners to call in not because he wants to hear their opinion but because he wants to give his. So as soon as a caller begins to talk he interrupts and goes off on some long discourse. One hostess asks callers to request tunes but she talks so fast that no one ever knows when the lines are open. In any case, it’s no secret that the majority of tunes requested on the air are not played. Everyone knows this but callers still call and request tunes.

Some callers call in to every call-in programme — radio and TV — and say the same thing — and I understand that ten new radio licences have recently been issued! One caller wished a good day to her friends and relatives calling them by name — more than a dozen! One radio station offers a prize to the seventh caller to identify a tune! So even if you know the tune, you may be calling in vain. Six people have to call in first — at their own expense — knowing that they won’t even be heard on the air. Also, scores of listeners call in just to say ‘tune No 1’ or ‘tune No 2.’ It’s almost as if the calls are toll-free. Sir, all this has convinced me that our telephone rates are too low. TSTT, please take note!

LANCE HENDERSON
Diego Martin