113 Directory Calls Now Free

CALLS to the nationwide, operator assistedtelephone directory, reached bydialing 113, are free for the rest of theyear as a result of a disagreement overthe publication of the country’s phonebooks (TT, July 8).Because multinational firm Verizonpublished this year’s phone book regionally,rather than nationwide as in the past– a change that resulted in a contract disputebetween Verizon and the CostaRican Electricity Institute (ICE) – theinstitute requested that the PublicServices Regulatory Authority (ARESEP),which regulates basic telephoneservices in the country, authorize ICE tooffer the 113 service for free.Calls to 113 previously cost ¢28.80($0.06).