Why the requirement??  Each local phone company has the ability to "tariff" each in-coming or out-going LONG DISTANCE phone call. That cost is charged to the long distance carrier and eventually passed on the consumer. Some charge more, some charge a tiny amount. RBOC's charge the long distance carriers the tiny amount. In the past, long distance carriers had lumped costs together and made no distinction between RBOC and non-RBOC customers. The difference is so significant now that many of my vendors have a two tier pricing system. Thus passing on the RBOC savings on to their customers.