1-800 calls are paid by the person you are calling. In this case AFA. On our last budget, AFA stated that the 800 DEAR AFA cost was, if I remember correctly, about 100K a year, in calls, equipment, maintenance and administration, I guess. 800 means that the caller does not pay. So, if you call DEAR AFA, or Jane Allen on EYE ON UA over and over and over, minute after minute, you will run up their bill. I have read about a case of someone that was prosecuted exactly for doing that, believe it on not! It said, the guy, a disgruntled employee, had actually dialed the 800 number over 1000 times in a few days!
We need to keep informed, so, it is money well spent. But, just like every item on the AFA budget, DEAR AFA is paid for with our dues and should be made by, and for, the people who pay them.
And that is all I have to say about that.