Free military phone bank program a bust

Thursday, December 29th 2005, 3:12 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- For the second day in a row, Oklahomans were not taking advantage Thursday of a program at the Capitol to make free telephone calls to family members in the military.

"Hopefully, this means that everybody talked to their soldier during the Christmas break," said Tony Vann, spokesman for Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, who worked with Cox Communications to set up the program.

On Wednesday, no one used the 24 telephones available in the Capitol's second-floor rotunda for free calls overseas or across the country. Nor had anyone used three computers set up to transmit e-mails.

Past 1 PM Thursday, the phones and computers were still unused.

Officials speculate there are many factors involved in the lack of participation in the program, including bad timing, high fuel prices and technological changes that allow families to keep in better contact with military members.

Vann said the free calls and e-mails will continue to be available Thursday until 10 PM and from 8 AM to 10 PM on Friday.