Beginning July 21, residential basic telephone rates for customers in many Missouri cities will rise by from $0.93 to $1.26 per month, an AT&T spokesman said.

AT&T spokesman Kerry Hibbs said that, aside from a 20 cent increase in 2002, basic local rates had remained static since 1984.

Rates will also increase by 5 percent for some services such as caller ID and call forwarding.

“Overall, our costs are rising,” Hibbs said. “When you look at things like labor and health care, the costs of doing business have increased in the last 22 years. We need the revenue to continue providing good service and to invest in technology.”

But people with bundled service plans such as unlimited long distance service, or extended area service, won’t be affected.

Hibbs said that some customers may be able to save money by signing up for packages which include calling features with local service or local and long distance service.

AT&T serves about 1.2 million lines in Missouri.