The House Subcommittee Studying the Feasibility of Toll-Free Telephone Service Within the County Wherein the Call Originated was established pursuant to House Resolution No. 7 of the 1978 General Assembly.

Lewis W. Parker, Jr., of South Hill, a member of the Commonwealth's House of Delegates, was appointed Chairman of the Subcommittee. Also appointed to serve were Delegates C. Don Dunford of Tazewell, Alexander B. McMurtrie, Jr. of Midlothian, Thomas B. Moss, Jr. of Norfolk, and Erwin S. Solomon of Hot Springs.

C. William Cramme', III and Hugh P. Fisher, III of the Division of Legislative Services served as legal and research staff to the Subcommittee.

It should be pointed out that the State Corporation Commission conducted a thorough study of Extended Area Service in 1973-74. In its report to the Governor and the General Assembly, the Commission made the following remarks concerning this service:

"Extended Area Service (EAS) refers to calling between two or more exchanges without paying a long distance charge. EAS service is often mistakenly and incorrectly referred to as "toll-free" calling. The providing of EAS between exchanges requires the installation of additional plant and results in loss to the company of prior toll revenue. The revenue to cover the cost of installing the additional plant and to replace the lost toll revenue is recovered in principal part from the exchange subscribers who benefit from EAS. This additional needed revenue from the affected exchanges normally results in an increase in the basic, uniform charges to subscribers. If an unreasonably small number of subscribers are benefited by EAS then again the majority would be subsidizing the calling requirements of the few."