Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502100099
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Led by Vermont, the attorneys general of the states asked the Federal Communications Commission to add the disclosure requirement to regulations governing pay phones.
The hefty charges involve long-distance calls made from privately owned pay phones at airports, bars and hotels.
Individual phone companies enter into agreements with phone owners to provide long-distance and operator services. These companies provide service automatically unless callers dial a five-digit access code to reach another long-distance company.
The problem, the states said, is that many callers who don't dial into their regular carrier are unaware that some of these other companies charge up to 10 times as much as AT&T, Sprint or MCI.
``The complaints we have received show a pattern of exorbitant charges and billing problems,'' said Vermont's Attorney General Jeffrey Amestoy.
The states suggested that the FCC require operators to run the following audio message: ``This may not be your regular telephone company, and you may be charged more than your regular telephone company would charge for this call. To find out how to contact your regular telephone company, call 1-(800) 555-1212.''
The FCC does not require operators to disclose pricing information. It does require companies to identify themselves in an audio message.
FCC rules also require pay-phone owners to list the name of the long-distance provider, its address and telephone number, and other information on the front of the phone.
In addition to Vermont, the states seeking FCC action on the issue are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
by CNB