Rural phone users must be protected: Fine Gael

Fine Gael has called on the Communications Regulator to protect the interests of rural consumers and ensure that those people living in isolated areas do not have to pay more to have a telephone line installed.

Party spokesman for Communications, Simon Coveney, was reacting to reports that Eircom has applied to change the terms of its license, which would allow the company to charge more for installing phone lines in isolated areas.