If the customer then switches long-distance providers, the 10-cent rate for the wireless service disappears, too.

Local companies charge long-distance providers to connect callers to their network.

Telecommunications experts said that in the 1990's, it became common for long-distance providers to seek legal ways to shift telephone traffic to reduce access tariffs.

Meanwhile, the long-running fight over billions of dollars in access fees paid by long-distance providers to the Bells has moved into the debate.

But even there, consumers happily leap from plan to plan, and bargain with long-distance providers to cut special deals.

In that case, the long-distance provider routes the call through an I.P. network.

Executives of long-distance providers say both versions are still too vague for their satisfaction.

While long-distance providers, in some cases, can still offer more competitive regional rates than the local carriers, the gap is narrowing.

Nonetheless, competition among long-distance providers remains fierce, and prices generally remain at historically low levels.

To be sure, the problems facing the Bells seem trivial compared with those of the long-distance providers.