Comparisons of Costs

Staff recognizes that there is a disproportionate impact on small business. The purpose for the requirement causing those costs, however, is accurate and timely public notice to consumers using pay phones.

Commission staff has considered and ruled out several possible mitigation alternatives. Less expensive placards are no solution because experience shows that they would not last. Extending replacement schedules would reduce the incremental cost of compliance, but would mean that incorrect information would be posted, and correct information not posted for extended periods is operating to the detriment of the public.

We have been unable to discover changes in the proposed rules to mitigate this impact on small business in ways that preserve notification to the public. The commission asks for suggestions during the comment period on how to mitigate the impact on small business.

A copy of the statement may be obtained by writing to Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Records Center, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 664-1234, fax (360) 586-1150.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to the commission. This rule change is not a significant legislative rule as defined in this statute.

Hearing Location: Commission Hearing Room, Second Floor, Chandler Plaza Building, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504, on October 28, 1998, at 9:30 a.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Pat Valentine by October 26, 1998, TDD (360) 586-8203, or (360) 664-1133.

Submit Written Comments to: Carole J. Washburn, Secretary, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504, or e-mail to <records@wutc.wa.gov>, fax (360) 586-1150, by September 18, 1998. Please include the Docket No. UT-970301 in your communication.

Date of Intended Adoption: October 28, 1998.

August 17, 1998

Terrance Stapleton

for Carole J. Washburn

Secretary

OTS-2410.1

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order R-384, Docket No. UT-921192, filed 2/26/93, effective 3/29/93)

WAC 480-120-021  Glossary. Access line - a circuit between a subscriber's point of demarcation and a serving switching center. Access code - sequence of numbers that, when dialed, connect the caller to the provider of operator services associated with that sequence.

Aggregator - is referenced in these rules as a call aggregator, defined below.

Alternate operator services company - ((any corporation, company, partnership, or person other than a local exchange company providing a connection to intrastate or interstate long-distance or to local services from locations of call aggregators. The term "operator services" in this rule means any intrastate telecommunications service provided to a call aggregator location that includes as a component any automatic or live assistance to a consumer to arrange for billing or completion, or both, of an intrastate telephone call through a method other than: Automatic completion with billing to the telephone from which the call originated; or completion through an access code used by the consumer with billing to an account previously established by the consumer with the carrier)) is referenced in these rules as an operator service provider (OSP), defined below.

Applicant - any person, firm, partnership, corporation, municipality, cooperative organization, governmental agency, etc., applying to the utility for new service or reconnection of discontinued service.

Automatic dialing-announcing device - any automatic terminal equipment which incorporates the following features:

(1)(a) Storage capability of numbers to be called; or

(b) A random or sequential number generator that produces numbers to be called; and

(c) An ability to dial a call; and

(2) Has the capability, working alone or in conjunction with other equipment, of disseminating a prerecorded message to the number called.

Automatic location identification/data management system (ALI/DMS) - ALI/DMS is a feature that forwards to the public safety answering point (PSAP) a caller's telephone number, the name and service address associated with the telephone number, and supplementary information as defined in the DMS for automatic display at the PSAP. The DMS is a combination of manual procedures and computer programs used to create, store, manipulate, and update data required to provide selective routing, ALI, emergency service numbers, and other information associated with the calling party's telephone number.

Billing agent - a person such as a clearing house which facilitates billing and collection between a carrier and an entity such as a local exchange company which presents the bill to and collects from the consumer.

Base rate area or primary rate area - the area or areas within an exchange area wherein mileage charges for primary exchange service do not apply.

Call aggregator - ((a)) any corporation, company, partnership, or person, who, in the ordinary course of its operations, makes telephones available ((for intrastate service)) to the public or to users of its premises for telephone calls using a provider of operator services, including but not limited to hotels, motels, hospitals, campuses, and pay ((telephones)) phones (see also pay phone service provider).

Centrex - a telecommunications service providing a subscriber with direct inward dialing to telephone extensions and direct outward dialing from them.

Central office - a switching unit in a telephone system having the necessary equipment and operating arrangements for terminating and interconnecting subscribers' lines, farmer lines, toll lines and interoffice trunks. (More than one central office may be located in the same building or in the same exchange.)

Commission (agency) - in a context meaning a state agency, the Washington utilities and transportation commission.

Commission (financial) - in a context referring to compensation for telecommunications services, a payment from an AOS company to an aggregator based on the dollar volume of business, usually expressed as a percentage of tariffed message toll charges.

Competitive telecommunications company - a telecommunications company which is classified as such by the commission pursuant to RCW 80.36.320.

Competitive telecommunications service - a service which is classified as such by the commission pursuant to RCW 80.36.330.

Consumer - user not classified as a subscriber.

Customer premises equipment (CPE) - telecommunications terminal equipment, including inside wire, located at a subscriber's premises on the subscriber's side of the standard network interface/point of demarcation (excluding pay telephones provided by the serving local exchange company).

Emergency calling - the ability to access emergency services by dialing 911, or dialing a local number to police and/or fire where 911 is not available, without the use of a coin or the entering of charge codes. Where enhanced 911 is operational, the address displayed to the public safety answering point (PSAP) shall be that of the phone instrument if different from the public access line demarcation point and the phone number must be that of the pay phone.

Exchange - a unit established by a utility for communication service in a specific geographic area, which unit usually embraces a city, town or community and its environs. It usually consists of one or more central offices together with the associated plant used in furnishing communication service to the general public within that area.

Exchange area - the specific area served by, or purported to be served by an exchange.

Farmer line - outside plant telephone facilities owned and maintained by a subscriber or group of subscribers, which line is connected with the facilities of a telecommunications company for switching service. (Connection is usually made at the base rate area boundary.)

Farmer station - a telephone instrument installed and in use on a farmer line.

Foreign exchange service - a communications exchange service that uses a private line to connect a subscriber's local central office with a distant central office in a community outside the subscriber's local calling area.

Interexchange telecommunications company - a telecommunications company, or division thereof, that does not provide basic local service.

Interoffice facilities - facilities connecting two or more telephone switching centers.

Local coin call - a connection within the local calling area of not less than fifteen minutes.

Location surcharge - a flat, per-call charge assessed by an ((alternate operator services company)) operator service provider (OSP) on behalf of a call aggregator/pay phone service provider in addition to message toll charges, local call charges, and operator service charges. A location surcharge is remitted, in whole or in part, to the call ((aggregator-customer)) aggregator/pay phone service provider.

Operator service charge - a charge, in addition to the message toll charge or local call charge, assessed for use of a calling card, a credit card, or for automated or live operator service in completing a call.

Operator service provider (OSP) - any corporation, company, partnership, or person providing a connection to intrastate or interstate long-distance or to local services from locations of call aggregators. The term "operator services" in this rule means any intrastate telecommunications service provided to a call aggregator location that includes as a component any automatic or live assistance to a consumer to arrange for billing or completion, or both, of an intrastate telephone call through a method other than: Automatic completion with billing to the telephone from which the call originated; or completion through an access code used by the consumer with billing to an account previously established by the consumer with the carrier.

Outside plant - the telephone equipment and facilities installed on, along, or under streets, alleys, highways, or on private rights-of-way between the central office and subscribers' locations or between central offices.

Pay phone or pay telephone - any telephone made available to the public on either a fee-per-call basis, independent of any other commercial transaction, for the purpose of making telephone calls, whether the telephone is coin-operated or is activated by calling collect or using a calling card.

Pay phone access line, public access line, pay telephone access line, pay station service, pay phone service (PAL) - is referenced in these rules as an access line, see above.

Pay phone services - access to local exchange or interexchange service, or access to an operator service provider via a telephone instrument that is available to the public.

Pay phone service provider (PSP) - any corporation, company, partnership, or person who owns or operates and makes pay phones available to the public.

Presubscribed provider of operator services - the provider of operator services to which the consumer is connected when a call is placed without dialing an access code.

Person - unless the context indicates otherwise, any natural person or an entity such as a corporation, partnership, municipal corporation, agency, or association.

Private branch exchange (PBX) - customer premises equipment installed on the subscriber's premises that functions as a switch, permitting the subscriber to receive incoming calls, to dial any other telephone on the premises, to access a tie trunk leading to another PBX or to access an outside trunk to the public switched telephone network.

Private line - a dedicated, nonswitched telecommunications channel provided between two or more points.

Public safety answering point (PSAP) - an answering location for enhanced 911 (E-911) calls originating in a given area. PSAPs are designated as a primary or secondary. Primary PSAPs receive E-911 calls directly from the public; secondary PSAPs receive E-911 calls only on a transfer or relay basis from the primary PSAP. Secondary PSAPs generally serve as centralized answering locations for a particular type of emergency call.

Reverse search of ALI/DMS data base - a query of the automatic location identification (ALI/DMS) data base initiated at the public safety answering point (PSAP) to obtain electronically the ALI data associated with a known telephone number for purposes of handling an emergency call when the searched telephone line is not connected to the PSAP.

Special circuit - an access line specially conditioned to give it characteristics suitable for handling special or unique services.

Standard network interface (SNI) - the point of interconnection between telecommunications company communications facilities and terminal equipment, protective apparatus, or wiring at a subscriber's premises. The network interface or demarcation point is located on the subscriber's side of the telecommunications company's protector, or the equivalent thereof in cases where a protector is not employed.

Station - a telephone instrument installed for the use of a subscriber to provide toll and exchange service.

Subscriber - any person, firm, partnership, corporation, municipality, cooperative organization, governmental agency, etc., supplied with service by any utility.

Toll station - a telephone instrument connected for toll service only and to which message telephone toll rates apply for each call made therefrom.

Trunk - a single or multichannel telecommunications medium between two or more switching entities which may include a PBX.

Utility - any corporation, company, association, joint stock association, partnership, person, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, owning, controlling, operating or managing any telephone plant within the state of Washington for the purpose of furnishing telephone service to the public for hire and subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 93-06-055 (Order R-384, Docket No. UT-921192), § 480-120-021, filed 2/26/93, effective 3/29/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and chapter 80.36 RCW. 91-13-078 (Order R-345, Docket No. UT-900726), § 480-120-021, filed 6/18/91, effective 7/19/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 1988 c 91. 89-04-044 (Order R-293, Docket No. U-88-1882-R), § 480-120-021, filed 1/31/89. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 86-11-009 (Order R-250, Cause No. U-85-58), § 480-120-021, filed 5/12/86, effective 7/31/86. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 1985 c 450. 85-23-001 (Order R-242, Cause No. U-85-56), § 480-120-021, filed 11/7/85. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.04.060. 79-10-060 (Order R-131, Cause No. U-79-42), § 480-120-021, filed 9/18/79. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.36.140. 79-03-031 (Order R-123, Cause No. U-79-01), § 480-120-021, filed 2/28/79; Order R-25, § 480-120-021, filed 5/5/71. Formerly WAC 480-120-030.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order R-422, Docket No. UT-940049, filed 9/22/94, effective 10/23/94)

WAC 480-120-138  ((Pay telephones--Local and intrastate.)) Pay phone service providers (PSPs). ((Every telecommunications company operating an exchange within the state of Washington may allow pay telephones to be connected to the company's network for purposes of interconnection and use of registered devices for local and intrastate communications. Every such telecommunications company offering such service shall file tariffs with the commission setting rates and conditions applicable to the connection of pay telephones to the local and intrastate network under the following terms and conditions. Local exchange companies that do not have a public access line tariff on file with the commission shall not be subject to these rules.

For purposes of these rules "pay telephone" is defined as equipment connected to the telephone network in one of the following modes:

(a) Coin operated: A telephone capable of receiving nickels, dimes, and quarters to complete telephone calls. Credit card or other operator-assisted billing may be used from a coin-operated instrument.

(b) Coinless: A pay telephone where completion of calls, except emergency calls, must be billed by an alternative billing method such as credit card, calling cards, collect, third-party billing, or billed in connection with the billing of meals, goods, and/or services. These pay phones include, but are not limited to, charge-a-call, cordless, tabletop, and credit card stations. The term does not include in-room telephones provided by hotels, motels, hospitals, campuses or similar facilities for the use of guests or residents.

For purposes of these rules, the term "subscriber" is defined as a party requesting or using a public access line for the purpose of connecting a pay telephone to the telephone network.

(1) Pay telephones connected to the company network must comply with Part 68 of the Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations and the National Electric Code and National Electric Safety Code as they existed on January 1, 1991, and must be registered with the Federal Communications Commission, or installed behind a coupling device which has been registered with the Federal Communications Commission.

(2) All pay telephones shall provide dial tone first to assure emergency access to operators without the use of a coin.

(3) The caller must be able to access the operator and 911 where available without the use of a coin.

(4) The charge for each directory assistance call paid by the consumer shall not exceed the prevailing per call charge for comparable directory assistance. In the absence of persuasive contrary evidence, the charge of U S WEST Communications for intraLATA directory assistance or AT&T for interLATA directory assistance shall be accepted as the prevailing charge. A location surcharge is not permitted.

(5) Emergency numbers (e.g., operator assistance and 911) must be clearly posted on each pay telephone.

(6) Information consisting of the name, address, telephone number of the owner, or the name of the owner and a toll-free telephone number where a caller can obtain assistance in the event the pay telephone malfunctions in any way, and procedures for obtaining a refund from the subscriber must be displayed on the front of the pay telephone.

The following information shall also be posted on or adjacent to the telephone instrument:

(a) The method by which the consumer may obtain without charge an accurate quotation of rates, fees and surcharges; and

(b) The notices required by WAC 480-120-141(4).

In no case will the charges to the user exceed the quoted costs.

(7) The telephone number of the pay telephone must be displayed on each instrument.

(8) The subscriber shall ensure that the pay telephone is compatible for use with hearing aids and its installation complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations concerning the use of telephones by disabled persons.

(9) The pay telephone, if coin operated, must return the coins to the caller in the case of an incomplete call and must be capable of receiving nickels, dimes, and quarters. Local exchange company pay telephones shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection.

(10) All pay telephones must provide access to all interexchange carriers where such access is available. If requested by the subscriber, the local exchange company providing the public access line shall supply, where available, (a) restriction which prevents fraud by selective blocking of 10XXX 1+ codes and (b) call screening to identify the line as one to which charges may not be billed, at appropriate tariffed rates.

(11) Except for service provided to hospitals, libraries, or similar public facilities in which a telephone ring might cause undue disturbance, or upon written request of a law enforcement agency, coin-operated pay telephones must provide two-way service, and there shall be no charge imposed by the subscriber for incoming calls. This subsection will not apply to pay telephones arranged for one-way service and in service on May 1, 1990. Should an existing one-way service be disconnected, change telephone number, or change financial responsibility, the requirements of this subsection shall apply. All pay telephones confined to one-way service shall be clearly marked on the front of the instrument.

(12) Pay telephones shall be connected only to public access lines in accordance with the approved tariffs offered by the local exchange company. Local exchange company pay telephones are not subject to this requirement.

(13) A subscriber must order a separate pay telephone access line for each pay telephone installed. Extension telephones may be connected to a pay telephone access line when the instrument:

(a) Prevents origination of calls from the extension station; and

(b) Prevents third party access to transmission from either the extension or the pay telephone instrument.

Local exchange companies are exempted from (b) of this subsection.

(14) Credit card operated pay telephones shall clearly identify all credit cards that will be accepted.

(15) Involuntary changes in telephone numbers upon conversion of pay telephones from local exchange company-owned to privately-owned pay telephones are prohibited.

(16) No fee shall be charged for nonpublished numbers on a public access line.

(17) Cordless and tabletop pay telephones shall not be connected to the telephone network except under the following conditions:

(a) The bill for usage is tendered to the user before leaving the premises where the bill was incurred or alternatively billed at the customer's request; and

(b) The user is notified verbally or on the instrument that privacy on cordless and tabletop telephones is not guaranteed; and

(c) When other electrical devices are equipped with filters, as necessary, to prevent interference with the pay telephone.

(18) Violations of the tariff, commission rules pertaining to pay telephone service, or other requirements contained in these rules, including interexchange carrier access requirements, will subject the pay telephone to disconnection of service as follows. When the local exchange company becomes aware of a violation, prior to disconnection of service, it shall immediately send written notification to the subscriber outlining all deficiencies. If any deficiency is not corrected within five days from the date of written notification to the subscriber, the local exchange company shall discontinue service. Prior to effecting the disconnection of service, the local exchange company shall make two bona fide attempts to reach the subscriber by telephone to advise the subscriber of the impending disconnection. WAC 480-120-081 shall not apply to such disconnections. The local exchange company shall ensure that any costs associated with the field visits for public access lines services be recovered from the subscriber of the public access line service in question.

It shall be the responsibility of every local exchange company to assure that any subscriber taking service pursuant to these rules and to tariffs filed pursuant to these rules meets all of the terms and conditions contained within these rules and the tariffs so filed. It shall be the duty of the local exchange company to enforce the terms and conditions contained herein.

It shall be the responsibility of the local exchange company to provide free of charge one current telephone directory each year for each public access line. It shall be the responsibility of the subscriber to make a reasonable effort to assure a current directory is available at every pay telephone location.

Public access lines will be charged at rates according to the relevant tariff as approved by the commission.

(19) Disconnection of, or refusal to connect, a pay telephone for violation of these rules may be reviewed by the commission in a formal complaint under WAC 480-09-420(5) through an adjudicative or a brief adjudicative proceeding under the provisions of chapters 34.05 RCW and 480-09 WAC.)) (1) General. This section sets out the standards applicable to providing pay phone service in the state of Washington. All pay phone service providers (PSPs) must comply with this and all other rules relating to pay phone services.

Every local exchange company within the state of Washington must allow pay phones to be connected to its network, and must file a tariff or price list with the commission to include the rates and conditions applicable to providing service to pay phones via its network.

The absence in these rules of specific ADA requirements and other local, state or federal requirements does not excuse PSPs from compliance with those requirements.

(2) Registration and application of rules.

(a) Pay phone service providers (PSPs) operating a pay phone within the state of Washington must register by:

(i) Submitting a master business application to the master license service, department of licensing; and

(ii) Obtaining a unified business identifier (UBI) number. A PSP that already has a UBI number need not reapply.

(b) Except where pay phone services or PSPs are specifically referenced, the rules of general applicability to public service companies or telecommunications companies do not apply to pay phone services. This does not exempt pay phone service providers from rules applicable to remedies or sanctions for violations of rules applicable to PSP operations.

(3) Access. Pay phones must provide access to:

(a) Dial tone;

(b) Emergency calling;

(c) Operator;

(d) Telecommunications relay service calls for the hearing impaired;

(e) All available subscriber toll-free services; and

(f) All available interexchange carriers, including the local exchange company.

Access to services (a) through (e) of this subsection, must be provided at no charge to the calling party.

(4) Disclosure - What must be posted. The following information must be clearly and legibly posted on or near the front of the pay phone, and must not be obstructed by advertising or otherwise:

(a) The rate for local calls, including any restrictions on the length of calls. Clear and legible posting of the rate can be accomplished by using 30 point or larger type print, or contrasting color;

(b) The rate for presubscribed directory assistance calls. If the rate is different for intraLATA and interLATA directory assistance, both rates must be posted;

(c) Notice that the pay phone does not make change, if applicable;

(d) The emergency number (911);

(e) The name, address, phone number, and unified business identifier (UBI) number of the owner or operator;

(f) A without-charge number to obtain assistance if the pay phone malfunctions, and procedures for obtaining a refund;

(g) The name, address, and without-charge number of all presubscribed operator service providers, as registered with the commission. This information must be updated within thirty days of a change in the OSP.

(h) Notice to callers that they can access other long distance carriers;

(i) The phone number including area code of the pay phone. When the pay phone is in an area that has had an area code change, that area code change must be promptly reflected on the pay phone within thirty days of the initial area code conversion;

(j) In contrasting colors, the commission compliance number for consumer complaints, to include the following information: "If you have a complaint about service from this pay phone and are unable to resolve it with the pay phone owner or operator, please call the commission at 1-888-333-WUTC (9882) (the commission's current toll-free number); and

(k) Placarding shall be in place within sixty days after the effective date of an applicable rule change.

(5) Operation and functionality.

(a) The pay phone, if coin operated, must return coins to the caller in the case of an incomplete call and must be capable of receiving nickels, dimes, and quarters.

(b) Pay phone keypads must include both numbers and letters.

(c) A PSP must order a separate pay phone access line (PAL) for each pay phone installed. The commission may waive this requirement if a company demonstrates that technology accomplishes the same result as one to one ratio by means other than through a PAL, that the service provided to consumers is fully equivalent, and that all emergency calling requirements are met. This PAL must pass the appropriate screening codes to the connecting carrier to indicate that the call is originating from a pay phone.

(d) Extension telephones may be connected to a pay phone access line for the purpose of monitoring emergency use only. An extension phone must be activated only when 911 is dialed from the pay phone, and the extension phone must be equipped with a "push to talk" switch or other mechanism to prevent inadvertent interruption of the caller's conversation with the public safety answering point. The pay phone must be clearly labeled to indicate that "911 calls are monitored locally."

(e) Cordless and tabletop pay phones may be connected to the telephone network only when the bill is presented to the user before leaving the premises where the bill was incurred, unless the consumer requests that the call be alternatively billed.

(f) The pay phone may not restrict the number of digits or letters that may be dialed.

(g) Pay phones may provide credit-only service, or coin and credit service.

(h) Pay phones must provide two-way service, and there must be no charge imposed by the PSP for incoming calls. Exceptions are allowed for service provided to hospitals and libraries to outgoing only service where a telephone ring might cause undue disturbance, and the exceptions set forth in subsection (6) of this section pertaining to criminal or illicit activity. Each pay phone confined to one-way service must be clearly marked on or near the front of the pay phone.

(6) Restrictions. A PSP must limit the operational capabilities of pay phones only when directed by the commission. The commission may direct such limitations upon request of local governing jurisdictions (or other governmental agencies) in their efforts to prevent or limit criminal or illicit activities. Restrictions may include, but are not limited to, blocking of incoming calls, limiting touch tone capabilities and coin restriction during certain hours.

Requests for a commission order directing the restriction of a pay phone (or pay phones in a certain geographic area) must be made by petition to the commission for waiver of this subsection to allow one or more specific restrictions and for an order directing restriction of the phone. The petition may be made on a form provided by the commission. The petition must include a request for the restriction signed by an agent of the local government jurisdiction in which the pay phone is located who has authority from the jurisdiction to submit the request and must state the jurisdiction's reasons for the request.

The petitioner must serve a copy of the petition on the pay phone service provider no later than the date the petition is filed with the commission. The petitioner must post a notice prominently visible at the pay phone(s) of the proposed restriction, no later than the day it is filed with the commission, and maintain it at the location until the commission acts on the petition. The notice must explain what is proposed and how to file an objection to the petition with the commission. The PSP must be notified of the petition and may comment on it. The petition is for an administrative, and not an adjudicative, decision and will be processed administratively.

If no objection is made by any person or by commission staff within the thirty-day comment period, the commission will enter an order directing the restriction. If an objection is filed, the commission will hear the petition after notice to the objector and the petitioner.

Once restrictions are in place at the telephone, the PSP must post on or near each pay phone so limited, in legible and prominent type, a description of each limitation in effect, times when the restrictions will be in effect, and the name and without-charge number of the governmental agency that recommended the restriction so the consumer may place complaints about the restrictions.

(7) Telephone directories. The provider of the pay phone access line must furnish without charge one current telephone directory each year for each pay phone access line (PAL).

The PSP must ensure that a current directory is available at every pay phone.

(8) Malfunctions and rule violations. Malfunctions of the pay phone, or rule violations reported to the repair/refund number or the commission, must be corrected within five days.

(9) Complaints and disputes. Complaints and disputes regarding pay phone service providers shall be treated in accordance with WAC 480-120-101.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 94-20-010 (Order R-422, Docket No. UT-940049), § 480-120-138, filed 9/22/94, effective 10/23/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and chapter 80.36 RCW. 91-13-078 (Order R-345, Docket No. UT-900726), § 480-120-138, filed 6/18/91, effective 7/19/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 90-08-010 (Order R-316, Docket No. U-89-3323-R), § 480-120-138, filed 3/23/90, effective 4/23/90; 85-20-009 (Order R-239, Cause No. U-85-45), § 480-120-138, filed 9/20/85.]

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order R-430, Docket No. UT-950134, filed 4/28/95, effective 5/29/95)

WAC 480-120-141  ((Alternate operator services.)) Operator service providers (OSPs). ((All telecommunications companies providing alternate operator services (AOS), as defined in WAC 480-120-021, shall comply with this and all other rules relating to telecommunications companies not specifically waived by order of the commission.

(1) Each alternate operator services company shall maintain, revise and provide to the commission upon request a current list of operator services customers which it serves and the locations and telephone numbers to which such service is provided to each customer. A customer list provided pursuant to this rule is proprietary information and, if identified when filed as required in WAC 480-09-015, is subject to the protections of that rule.

(2) Each AOS company is responsible for assuring that each of its customers complies fully with contract and tariff provisions which are specified in this rule. Failure to secure compliance constitutes a violation by the AOS company.

(a) The AOS company shall withhold on a location-by-location basis the payment of compensation, including commissions, from a call aggregator, if the AOS company reasonably believes that the call aggregator is blocking access to interexchange carriers in violation of these rules.

(b) Violations of tariff, contract or other statements of conditions of service, in commission rules pertaining to AOS company service, or of other requirements contained in these rules, including interexchange carrier access requirements, will subject an aggregator to termination of alternate operator services as follows. When the AOS becomes aware of a violation, prior to disconnection of service, it shall immediately send written notification to the aggregator outlining all deficiencies. If any deficiency is not corrected within five days from the date of written notification to the aggregator, the AOS shall terminate service. Prior to effecting the termination of service, the AOS company shall make two bona fide attempts to reach the subscriber by telephone to advise the subscriber of the impending termination. WAC 480-120-081 shall not apply to such terminations.

(c) AOS company actions in furtherance of this rule may be reviewed by the commission in a formal complaint under WAC 480-09-420 through an adjudicative or a brief adjudicative proceeding under the provisions of chapters 34.05 RCW and 480-09 WAC.

(d) An AOS company shall refuse to provide operator services to a call aggregator who the commission has found to have knowingly and repeatedly violated commission rules regarding the provision of alternate operator service until the commission has found that the call aggregator will comply with relevant law and rule.

(3) For purposes of this section, "consumer" means the party initiating and/or paying for an interexchange or local call. "Customer" means the call aggregator, i.e., the hotel, motel, hospital, prison, campus, pay telephone, etc., contracting with an AOS for service.

(4) An alternate operator services company shall require, as a part of any contract with its customer and as a term and condition of service stated in its tariff, that the customer:

(a) Post on the telephone instrument in plain view of anyone using the telephone, in eight point or larger Stymie Bold type, the information provided in the following notice:

service on this instrument may be provided at rates that are higher than normal. you have the right to contact the operator for information regarding charges before placing your call. instructions for reaching your preferred carrier are also available from the operator.

(b) Post and maintain in legible condition on or near the telephone:

(i) The name, address, and without-charge number of the alternate operator services company, as registered with the commission;

(ii) Dialing directions so that a consumer may reach the AOS operator without charge to receive specific rate information; and

(iii) Directions to allow the consumer to reach the consumer's preferred carrier and to make it clear that the consumer has access to the other providers.

(c) Provide access from every instrument to 1-800 services and all available interexchange carriers; and

(d) Shall post, on or near the instrument, a notice stating whether a location surcharge or any other fee is imposed for telecommunications access through the instrument, the amount of any fee or location surcharge, and the circumstances when it will apply.

(e) Posting under these rules shall begin no later than October 1, 1991, and shall be completed no later than January 31, 1992. In the interim, posting in compliance with the immediate prior posting provisions of WAC 480-120-141 is required and shall constitute compliance with this rule.

(5) The alternate operator services company shall:

(a) Identify the AOS company providing the service audibly and distinctly at the beginning of every call, and again before the call is connected, including an announcement to the called party on calls placed collect.

(i) For purposes of this rule the beginning of the call is no later than immediately following the prompt to enter billing information on automated calls and, on live and automated operator calls, when the call is initially routed to the operator.

(ii) The message used by the AOS company shall state the name of the company as registered with the commission whenever referring to the AOS company. Terms such as "company," "communications," "incorporated," "of the northwest," etc., when not necessary to clear consumer identification of the entity providing service may be omitted when authorized by letter from the secretary of the commission.

(iii) The consumer shall be permitted to terminate the telephone call at no charge before the call is connected.

(iv) The AOS company shall immediately, upon request, and at no charge to the consumer, disclose to the consumer:

(A) A quote of the rates or charges for the call, including any surcharge;

(B) The method by which the rates or charges will be collected; and

(C) The methods by which complaints about the rates, charges, or collection practices will be resolved.

(b) Provide to the local exchange company such information as may be necessary for billing purposes, as well as an address and toll free telephone number for consumer inquiries.

(c) Reoriginate calls to another carrier upon request and without charge, when equipment is in place which will accomplish reorigination with screening and allow billing from the point of origin of the call. If reorigination is not available, the AOS company shall give dialing instructions for the consumer's preferred carrier.

(d) Assure that a minimum of ninety percent of all calls shall be answered by the operator within ten seconds from the time the call reaches the carrier's switch.

(e) Maintain adequate facilities in all locations so the overall blockage rate for lack of facilities, including as pertinent the facilities for access to consumers' preferred interexchange carriers, does not exceed one percent in the time consistent busy hour. Should excessive blockage occur, it shall be the responsibility of the AOS company to determine what caused the blockage and take immediate steps to correct the problem. This subsection does not apply to blockage during unusually heavy traffic, such as national emergency, local disaster, holidays, etc.

(6) The alternate operator services company shall assure that persons are not billed for calls which are not completed. For billing purposes, calls shall be itemized, identified, and rated from the point of origination to the point of termination. No call shall be transferred to another carrier by an AOS which cannot or will not complete the call, unless the call can be billed in accordance with this subsection.

(7) For purposes of emergency calls, every alternate operator services company shall have the following capabilities:

(a) Automatic identification at the operator's console of the location from which the call is being made;

(b) Automatic identification at the operator's console of the correct telephone numbers of emergency service providers that serve the telephone location, including but not limited to, police, fire, ambulance, and poison control;

(c) Automatic ability at the operator's console of dialing the appropriate emergency service with a single keystroke;

(d) Ability of the operator to stay on the line with the emergency call until the emergency service is dispatched.

No charge shall be imposed on the caller by the telephone company or the alternate operator services company for the emergency call.

If the alternate operator services company does not possess these capabilities, all calls in which the consumer dials zero (0) and no other digits within five seconds shall be routed directly to the local exchange company operator, or to an entity fully capable of complying with these requirements. AOS companies lacking sufficient facilities to provide such routing shall cease operations until such time as the requirements of this section are met.

(8) Complaints and disputes shall be treated in accordance with WAC 480-120-101, Complaints and disputes.

(9) Charges billed to a credit card company (e.g., American Express or Visa) need not conform to the call detail requirements of this section. However, the AOS shall provide specific call detail in accordance with WAC 480-120-106 upon request.

(10) "Public convenience and advantage"; surcharges; variable rates.

(a) For services, public convenience and advantage means at a minimum that the provider of alternate operator services offers operator services which equal or exceed the industry standards in availability, technical quality and response time and which equal or exceed industry standards in variety or which are particularly adapted to meet unique needs of a market segment. In the absence of other persuasive evidence, a demonstration that operator service equals or exceeds that provided by US WEST Communications for intraLATA services or AT&T for interLATA services will be accepted as demonstrating public convenience and advantage.

(b) Charges no greater than those prevailing charges in the relevant market - intraLATA or interLATA - will be accepted as demonstrating that charges are for the public convenience and advantage. In the absence of persuasive contrary evidence, $0.25 higher per call than AT&T daytime charges for intraLATA and interLATA service will be accepted as the prevailing charges.

(c) Surcharges; variable rates. No location surcharge may be added to without-charge calls nor to a charge for directory assistance. No tariff may provide for rate levels which vary at the option of a call aggregator, provided, that an aggregator may waive application of the surcharge to calls from its instruments, and provided further, that an AOS company may establish a tariff rate for high-cost locations if the conditions for application of the rate confine it to locations with substantially higher than average operating costs.

(11) Rates to the consumer for the provision of alternate operator services, including directory assistance, shall not exceed the prevailing rates for such services in the relevant market - intraLATA or interLATA - unless need for the excess to produce rates which are fair, just and reasonable is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the commission. In the absence of persuasive contrary evidence, $0.25 higher per call than AT&T daytime charges for intraLATA and interLATA service will be considered the prevailing rate.

(12) Fraud prevention.

(a) A company providing interexchange telecommunications service may not bill a call aggregator for charges billed to a line for calls which originated from that line through the use of 10XXX+0; 10XXX+01; 950-XXXX; or 1-800 access codes, or when the call originating from that line otherwise reached an operator position, if the originating line subscribed to outgoing call screening and the call was placed after the effective date of the outgoing call screening order.

(b) A company providing interexchange telecommunications service may not bill to a call aggregator any charges for collect or third number billed calls, if the line serving to which the call was billed was subscribed to incoming call screening and the call was placed after the effective date of the call screening service order.

(c) Any calls billed through the local exchange carrier in violation of subparagraphs (a) or (b) above must be removed from the call aggregator's bill by the local exchange company upon identification. If investigation by the local exchange company determines that the pertinent call screening was operational when the call was made, the local exchange company may return the charges for the call to the interexchange telecommunications company as not billable.

(d) Any call billed directly by an alternate operator service company, or through a billing method other than the local exchange company, which is billed in violation of subparagraphs (a) and (b), above, must be removed from the call aggregator's bill. The telecommunications company providing the service may request an investigation by the local exchange company. If the local exchange company, after investigation, determines that call screening which would have protected the call, which is offered by the LEC and was subscribed to by the call aggregator, was not operational at the time the call was placed, the AOS company shall bill the LEC for the call.)) (1) General. This section gives information to operator service providers (OSPs) that provide operator services from pay phones and other aggregator locations within Washington. All telecommunications companies providing operator services (both live and automated) must comply with this and all other rules relating to telecommunications companies not specifically waived by order of the commission. The absence in these rules of specific ADA requirements and other local, state or federal requirements does not excuse OSPs from compliance with those requirements.

(a) Each operator service provider (OSP) must maintain a current list of the customers it serves in Washington and the locations and telephone numbers where the service is provided.

(b) No OSP shall provide service to a PSP that is not fully in compliance with the rules.

(c) For purposes of this section, "consumer" means the party initiating and/or paying for a call using operator services. In collect calls, both the originating party and the party on the terminating end of the call are consumers. "Customer" means the call aggregator or pay phone service provider, i.e., the hotel, motel, hospital, correctional facility/prison, or campus, contracting with an OSP for service.

(2) Disclosure.

(a) What must be posted. The following information must be clearly and legibly posted on or near the front of a pay phone, and must not be obstructed by advertising or other messages:

(i) The name, address, and without-charge number of all presubscribed operator service providers, as registered with the commission. This information must be updated within thirty days after a change of OSPs;

(ii) Notice to consumers that they can access other long distance carriers;

(iii) In contrasting colors, the commission compliance number for consumer complaints, to include the following information: "If you have a complaint about service from this pay phone and are unable to resolve it with the pay phone owner or operator or operator service provider, please call the commission at 1-888-333-WUTC (9882)"; and

(iv) Placarding as a result of rule changes shall be in place within sixty days after the effective date of the rule change.

(b) Verbal disclosure of rates. Before an operator-assisted call from an aggregator location may be connected by a presubscribed OSP, the OSP must verbally advise the consumer how to receive a rate quote, such as by pressing a specific key or keys, but no more than two keys, or by staying on the line. This message must precede any further verbal information advising the consumer how to complete the call, such as to enter the consumer's calling card number. This rule applies to all calls from pay phones or other aggregator locations, including prison phones, and store-and-forward pay phones or "smart" telephones. After hearing an OSP's message, a consumer may waive their right to obtain specific rate quotes for the call they wish to make by choosing not to press the key specified in the OSP's message to receive such information or by hanging up. The rate quoted for the call must include any applicable surcharge. Charges to the user must not exceed the quoted rate.

(3) Access. Pay phones must provide access to:

(a) Dial tone;

(b) Emergency calling;

(c) Operator;

(d) Telecommunications relay service calls for the hearing impaired;

(e) All available subscriber toll-free services; and

(f) All available interexchange carriers, including the local exchange company.

Access to services (a) through (e) of this subsection, must be provided at no additional charge to the calling party.

(4) Branding. The operator service provider must:

(a) Identify the OSP providing the service audibly and distinctly at the beginning of every call, including an announcement to the called party on calls placed collect.

(b) Ensure that the beginning of the call is no later than immediately following the prompt to enter billing information on automated calls and, on live and automated operator calls, when the call is initially routed to the operator.

(c) State the name of the company as registered with the commission (or its registered "doing business as" name) whenever referring to the OSP. Terms such as "company," "communications," "incorporated," "of the northwest," etc., may be omitted when not necessary to identify clearly the OSP.

(5) Billing. The operator service provider must:

(a) Provide to the billing company applicable call detail necessary for billing purposes, as well as an address and toll free telephone number for consumer inquiries.

(b) Ensure that consumers are not billed for calls that are not completed. For billing purposes, calls must be itemized, identified, and rated from the point of origination to the point of termination. No call may be transferred to another carrier by an OSP unless the call can be billed from the point of origin of the call.

(c) Charges billed to a credit card need not conform to the call detail requirements of this section. However, the OSP must provide specific call detail in accordance with WAC 480-120-106, Form of bills, upon request.

(6) Operational capabilities. The operator service provider must:

(a) Answer at least ninety percent of all calls within ten seconds from the time the call reaches the carrier's switch.

(b) Maintain adequate facilities in all locations so the overall blockage rate for lack of facilities, including as pertinent the facilities for access to consumers' preferred interexchange carriers, does not exceed one percent in the time-consistent busy hour. Should excessive blockage occur, it is the responsibility of the OSP to determine what caused the blockage and take immediate steps to correct the problem.

(c) Offer operator services that equal or exceed the industry standards in availability, technical quality, response time, and that also equal or exceed industry standards in variety or are particularly adapted to meet unique needs of a market segment.

(d) Reoriginate calls to another carrier upon request and without charge when the capability to accomplish reorigination with screening and allow billing from the point of origin of the call, is in place. If reorigination is not available, the OSP must give dialing instructions for the consumer's preferred carrier.

(7) Emergency calls. For purposes of emergency calls, every OSP must have the following capabilities:

(a) Be able to transfer the caller into the appropriate E-911 system and to the public safety answering point (PSAP) serving the location of the caller with a single keystroke from the operator's console, to include automatic identification of the exact location and address from which the call is being made;

(b) Have the ability for the operator to stay on the line with the emergency call until the PSAP representative advises the operator that they are no longer required to stay on the call; and

(c) Be able to provide a without-charge number for direct access to public safety answering points should additional information be needed when responding to a call for assistance from a phone utilizing the provider's services. That emergency contact information must not be considered proprietary.

(8) Fraud protection.

(a) A company providing telecommunications service may not bill a call aggregator for the following:

(i) Charges billed to a line for calls which originated from that line through the use of carrier access codes (i.e., 10XXX+0, 10XXX+01, 950-XXXX), toll-free access codes, or when the call originating from that line otherwise reached an operator position, if the originating line subscribed to outgoing call screening or pay phone specific ANI coding digits and the call was placed after the effective date of the outgoing call screening or pay phone specific ANI coding digits order; or

(ii) Collect or third-number billed calls, if the line serving the call that was billed had subscribed to incoming call screening (also termed billed number screening) and the call was placed after the effective date of the call screening service order.

(b) Any calls billed through the access line provider in violation of subsection (1) or (2) of this section must be removed from the call aggregator's bill by the access line provider. If investigation by the access line provider determines that the pertinent call screening or pay phone specific ANI coding digits was operational when the call was made, the access line provider may return the charges for the call to the telecommunications company as not billable.

(c) Any call billed directly by an OSP, or through a billing method other than the access line provider, which is billed in violation of subsections (1) and (2) of this section, must be removed from the call aggregator's bill. The telecommunications company providing the service may request an investigation by the access line provider. If the access line provider determines that call screening or pay phone specific ANI coding digits (which would have protected the call) was subscribed to by the call aggregator and was not operational at the time the call was placed, the OSP must bill the access line provider for the call.

(9) Enforcement. Operator service providers are subject to all pertinent provisions of law.

(a) Suspension. The commission may suspend the registration of any company providing operator services if the company fails to meet minimum service levels or fails to provide disclosure to consumers of protection available under chapter 80.36 RCW and pertinent rules.

(i) Suspension may be ordered following notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in RCW 80.04.110 and the procedural rules of the commission.

(ii) No operator service provider may operate while its registration is suspended.

(iii) Except as required by federal law, no provider of pay phone access line service may provide service to any operator service provider whose registration is suspended.

(b) Penalty. The commission may assess a penalty as provided in RCW 80.36.522 and 80.36.524, upon any company providing operator services if the company fails to meet minimum service levels or fails to provide disclosure to consumers of protection available under chapter 80.36 RCW.

(c) Alternatives. The commission may take any other action regarding a provider of operator services as authorized by law.

(d) Complaints. Complaints and disputes will be treated in accordance with WAC 480-120-101.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040. 95-10-039 (Order R-430, Docket No. UT-950134), § 480-120-141, filed 4/28/95, effective 5/29/95; 94-20-010 (Order R-422, Docket No. UT-940049), § 480-120-141, filed 9/22/94, effective 10/23/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and chapter 80.36 RCW. 91-20-162 (Order R-348, Docket No. UT-910828), § 480-120-141, filed 10/2/91, effective 11/2/91; 91-13-078 (Order R-345, Docket No. UT-900726), § 480-120-141, filed 6/18/91, effective 7/19/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 80.01.040 and 1988 c 91. 89-04-044 (Order R-293, Docket No. U-88-1882-R), § 480-120-141, filed 1/31/89.]

REPEALER

The following sections of the Washington Administrative Code are repealed:

WAC 480-120-137 Customer-owned pay telephones--Interstate.

WAC 480-120-142 Alternate operator services--Enforcement.

WAC 480-120-143 Local service to aggregators.

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office