Cuba Says It's Cutting Rates On Phone Calls To US

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba has announced it is eliminating a surcharge on phone calls to and from the United States that contributed to high prices. The government says the move is aimed at improving communication with Cuban-Americans. A statement sent to international news organizations Friday doesn't go into specifics, but refers to a decree in 2000 that established a 10 percent surcharge on such calls.

Calls to the United States from Cuba can cost as much as $3 a minute, while calls from the U.S. to Cuba usually cost a bit more than $1 a minute. Cuba often blames the high rates on the U.S. economic embargo. Cuba says it is hoping the drop in rates will "improve communications between the people of Cuba and its emigres."