Kadena phone lines switching to Verizon in March Published March 4, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Base residents should prepare themselves to switch phone numbers when the new telephone contractor Verizon Business takes over residential phone service March 31. Every base resident should have received a letter in February about the cutover. As a result of the transition, the vast majority of customers will be able to keep the last four digits of their phone number, but they'll have to get used to a new prefix. For calls on base, residents will have to dial 959-XXXX instead of 633-XXXX. Callers from the continental United States will still dial an international prefix (011-81) to reach base households. Off-base to on-base callers will still need to dial the same way as before -- 098-959-XXXX. Similarly, calling from Kadena to the states will still require dialing an international prefix. For on-base emergencies, residents will still dial 911. Customers who currently have service with the 18th Communication Squadron will automatically be switched over to Verizon. There will be no installation fees for established customers, and there will be no impact on residents who use voice over IP programs such as Skype or Vonage that are enabled by Mediatti Internet services. Through Verizon, customers will receive service similar to what they currently receive at a comparable price, said Senior Master Sgt. Carl Thompson, 18th Communications Squadron superintendent of squadron policy and evaluations. Residents will pay $39 per month for Verizon phone service, which will include 100 free minutes of calling to the United States. After the first 100 free minutes, direct dial calls to the United States will cost 2.95 cents per minute. Fees for off-base calls will vary depending on where and when you are calling, but in general costs will be equivalent to the current rates. Payment options have changed and customers should take note. Residents will no longer be able to have payments drawn directly from their paychecks. However, customers will be able to pay their bills online or by mail. The will also be able to pay at Building 400 in the area currently occupied by the 18th CS Telephone Customer Service desk, which Verizon will be operating out of during the transition. After the phone service transition is complete, the Verizon customer service area is scheduled move from Building 400 to the Base Exchange. Sergeant Thompson added that the transition is mostly on track, though the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is still working with the telecom companies to set up off-base toll free access numbers for calling cards since the old 630-XXXX access numbers will no longer work. Once active, the cards should be accessible from unofficial lines. For more information and frequently asked questions, visit http://www.kadena.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=13314 or to view the Kadena Air Base phonebook, go to http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/govt/kadena/.