Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

Telecom - Top News
CenturyTel increases price of Simple Choice package

November 2008 - CenturyTel has increased the monthly rate of the Simple Choice package from $29.95 to $31.95. CenturyTel is able to increase its package prices since it was granted "elective alternative regulation" by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in 2004. Elective alternative regulation permits companies like CenturyTel to increase the rates of telephone features such as Call Waiting and Three-Way Calling as well as the prices of packages that typically include basic local service and several features.

Verizon increases some long-distance rates

October 2008 - Effective Nov. 1, 2008, Verizon will increase charges associated with some of its long-distance plans.

  • The Minimum Spend Level (MSL) for the Basic Rates Plan will increase from $3.50 to $5.
  • The monthly recurring charge (MRC) or monthly plan rate for the following plans will increase by $1:
    • Best Times Plan (from $5.95 to $6.95)
    • E-Values Plan (from $4.50 to $5.50)
    • Talk Time 300 Plan (from $21 to $22)
    • Talk Time 500 Plan (from $30 to $31)
    • Talk Time 1000 Plan (from $39.95 to $40.95)
    • State Saver Plan (from $6.95 to $7.95)

Verizon is able to increase its long-distance rates since those rates are no longer regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Verizon customers with questions about their plan can call the telephone company at 1-800-483-3000.

AT&T increases some local toll plans and rates

September 2008 - Effective Oct. 15, 2008, AT&T will be increasing the monthly fee and per-minute rates for the following local toll plans:

  • Saver Pack 60: The monthly fee will increase from $11.60 to $12.50. The per-minute overage rate will increase from 7 to 9 cents.

  • Saver Pack 120: The monthly fee will increase from $17 to $18. The per-minute overage rate will increase from 7 to 9 cents.

  • Saver Pack 200: The monthly fee will increase from $21 to $22. The per-minute overage rate will increase from 7 to 9 cents.

  • Anytime Rate plan: The monthly fee will increase from $4.95 to $6. The per-minute rate will increase from 7 to 9 cents.

  • Area Wide Calling plan: The monthly fee will increase from $5.50 to $7.

  • Peak/Off-Peak plan: The monthly fee will increase from $2.95 to $4. The per-minute off-peak rate will increase from 9 to 10 cents.

For more information, residential customers can call AT&T toll free at 1-800-288-2020.

Federal regulators to ban prerecorded sales pitches

September 2008 - Based on rule changes by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), prerecorded sales calls will be banned beginning Sept. 2009, unless they are made to consumers who have given a company written permission. Prerecorded calls that only provide information and do not try to sell products or services will still be permitted.

The new rule prohibits prerecorded sales calls regardless of whether a consumer’s telephone number is on the federal Do-Not-Call list or whether they do business with the companies that could place those calls.

In addition, beginning Dec. 2008 the FTC will require telemarketers making prerecorded sales calls to, at the beginning of the sales pitch, provide consumers with an interactive way to end the call and prevent future prerecorded calls from their company.

For more information about the FTC’s recent announcement, click here.

Action Alert Results:

Consumers and OCC make impact in review of telephone consumer protections

Local telephone customers: Your voices were heard

General Information

In some parts of the state, consumers can choose among several companies for their local telephone service. However the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) is concerned that this competition may be eliminated in the near future. Decisions by the Federal Communications Commission and federal courts mean that competitors may not be able to lease critical parts of the local telephone system at reasonable prices. Unless they can use the system for a fair price, competitors will no longer be able to offer service to residential consumers. As your residential utility consumer advocate, the OCC advocates for rules and decisions that will allow competition to continue.

The OCC is here to help you make sense of today's telephone market. We provide fact sheets on topics such as how to choose a local or long-distance telephone provider, how to read a telephone bill and what your rights are as a telephone consumer along with other related materials.

Information believed accurate but not guaranteed.
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