Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.18

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 770-X-5-.18 - Operator Services At Captive Locations

(1) The following requirements apply to operator services at captive locations (as defined in 770-X-5-.02, above):

(a) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, operator assisted and direct dialed service shall be provided at rates no higher than the rates of facility-based interexchange carriers for interLATA service and the rates of Local Exchange Carriers for intraLATA service.

(b) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, operator assisted service shall not be provided at locations that do not have direct dialed service.

(2) Unless otherwise ordered by the Commission, surcharges for subscribers shall not be billed or collected by the provider.

(3) The provider shall have available for Commission inspection in Alabama a list, updated monthly, of Alabama customers, and shall file with the Commission the name and address of its location.

(4)

(a) The provider shall identify itself at least once, audibly and distinctly, to the consumer at the beginning of each telephone call and before the consumer incurs any charge for the call.

(b) The provider shall permit the caller to terminate the telephone call at no charge before the call is connected.

(5) Where possible, uncompleted calls shall not be billed and, when billed, such charges shall be deleted upon the request of a caller.

(6) Local exchange service shall not be discontinued for nonpayment of disputed portions of provider's charges.

(7) Emergency calls shall be immediately connected by the provider to the appropriate emergency service at the caller's location, if possible, or shall otherwise be connected immediately to the caller's local exchange.

(8) The provider shall disclose immediately to the caller, upon request and at no charge to the caller:

(a) A quotation of the rates and charges for the call;

(b) The methods by which such rates and charges will be collected; and

(c) The methods by which complaints concerning such rates, charges and collection practices will be resolved.

(9)

(a) The provider shall require each subscriber to post on or near the telephone instrument, in plain view of callers:

1. The provider's name, address, and toll-free telephone number;

2. A statement that the rates for operator assisted calls are available on request, and that consumers have a right to obtain access to the common carrier of their choice and may contact their preferred carrier for information on accessing that carrier's service using that telephone.

(b) The provider shall ensure, by contract or tariff, that each of its subscribers complies with the above posting requirements.

(10)

(a) Callers shall be provided access to 800 numbers, 1OXXX and to 950 access code numbers to obtain access to the desired carrier.

(b) The provider shall:

1. Ensure, by contract or tariff, that its subscribers do not block 800 and 950 access, and

2. Withhold payment (on a location-by-location basis) of any compensation to subscribers if the provider reasonably believes the subscriber is blocking 800 and/or 950 access, or charging more than the subscriber's charge for a local call for such access.

(11) The provider shall have reasonable procedures for complaints and shall have a toll-free number(s) for complaints and billing inquiries.

(12) The provider shall have a billing procedure to bill end users for calls no later than sixty (60) days after the call.

(13)

(a) Rates for calls shall be based on direct mileage between the calling and called locations.

(b) The provider shall not transfer a call to another provider in such a manner that the subsequent provider will not bill the call from the caller's location, unless the caller so requests after full disclosure.

(14)

(a) Callers shall have access to a live operator (as opposed to a robotic operator) at all times.

(b) 0 only calls shall be directed only to the local exchange carrier.

(15) The provider shall provide access to the Alabama Dual Party Relay Center for all customers, in compliance with 770-X-5-.05(E), above.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 770-X-5-.18

Effective October, 1967. Amended April 1974. Amended February 1991. Amended February 1991. Amended March 1993. Amended October 1997. Amended November 1998. Filed with LRS February 5, 2013. Filed for Codification in the Alabama Administrative Code by the Alabama Public Service Commission on February 5, 2013, pursuant to the Code of Ala. 1975, § 41-22-7.

Author: Alabama Public Service Commission

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 37-1-57, 37-1-82, 37-2-3.