>>My theory is this...
>>
>>Because so many people have cell phones, pay phones are not used that much any more. The only way to make the pay phone pay for itself (and turn a profit) is to raise the rate to use the phone. Most pay phones are not owned by the phone company.
>
>That is what the story on CNN said. Low usage rates caused the increase.

Well, there you have it. I came to that conclusion when I needed to use a pay phone a couple of months ago, only to notice a quarter wouldn't cut the mustard. I realized had not used a pay phone in a few years...before I had a cell phone.