Long Branch, N.J. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. today called on the U. S Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General to investigate contract services provided by AT&T to our troops in Iraq.

Pallone cited recent reports that troops in Iraq placing telephone calls back home have expressed frustration with the service provided by AT&T, the only company with a contract to provide call centers at Iraq military bases.

Troops and families complain that the number of units or minutes advertised on AT&T calling cards rarely represents the actual calling time from Iraq to the United States. They also complain that troops are only allowed to use AT&T calling cards in the call centers and are forced to use a less reliable phone system if they hope to use a non-AT&T calling card.

"Our troops face dangers everyday and the few minutes they have each week or month to call home are precious to them and their families," Pallone said. "AT&T should be required to provide a clear and straightforward system of calling time that will make it easier for our troops to call home."

Besides the AT&T issue, Pallone also called on the Defense Department to immediately institute a system of contract review to ensure accountability and transparency by contractors and subcontractors.

"There have been numerous troubling reports that contractor and subcontractors in Iraq have been turning inflated profits on the backs of our men and women in uniform," Pallone said. "It disturbs me to think that companies are more interested in making a buck on our soldiers in Iraq than providing the quality services they have been paid to provide.