Payphones Signage Requirements

Pay telephone signage provides important information to consumers and pay telephone signage should reflect that connection to CRS via 711 is a free call. We believe that payphone signage should state that 711 is a free call to CRS.

Although payphone owners should begin the process of converting signage as soon as possible, TD agrees with workshop comments that the larger payphone owners cannot change signage of all of their phones by October 1, 2001 without incurring substantial added expenses.

We require the telecommunications carriers that provide dial tone to payphone owners to file tariffs by no later than September 15, 2001, to be effective January 1, 2001, that state the following:

"Payphone signage must reflect the fact that 711 is a free call to the California Relay Service using the language `711 is a free call to TRS/CRS'."

FINDINGS

1. All telecommunications carriers and payphone owners should provide free access to the California relay services by October 1, 2001.

2. The basic service definition needs to include connection to California Relay Service via 711 to ensure accommodation to deaf and disabled Californians.

3. California Relay Service Minimum Service Quality Standards should not be diminished by federal standards where California Relay Service standards exceed federal standards.

4. Local calls made through California Relay Service should be free of charge.

5. Toll and long distance charges apply to 711 calls after connection by the California Relay Service to the called number.

6. Ongoing education and outreach should be required to ensure continued awareness of 711.

7. The Commission's Public Advisor should review the bill inserts or mail-outs with assistance from the Telecommunications Division before being mailed.

8. Signage for payphones is necessary to ensure public awareness of the availability and cost of 711.

9. The 711 abbreviated dialing code is an integral part of providing functionally equivalent telecommunication services to the deaf and disabled community.

10. Carriers are encouraged to provide rate discounts for toll and long distance calls placed via 711 as a means of ensuring functionally equivalent access to phone services.

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. All Local Exchange Carriers, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, wireless providers and owners of payphones shall provide connection to the California Relay Service via the 711 abbreviated dialing code on or before October 1, 2001.

2. No charges for use of the 711 dialing code shall be permitted with the exception of toll calls and long distance calls once the California Relay Service connects the caller to the intended number.

3. Local calls made through the California Relay Service via 711 shall be free calls.

4. Telecommunications carriers shall file tariffs by September 15, 2001, to be effective by October 1, 2001, that includes language to prohibit payphone owners from charging for access to the California Relay Service and to provide for local calls made via the California Relay Service at no charge.

5. All Local Exchange Carriers, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, and wireless providers shall provide all California customers with bill inserts or freestanding mailings, approved by the Commission's Public Advisor with consultation of the Telecommunications Division, that contain information about 711 service and the availability of alternate numbers to reach relay providers. These inserts must be mailed by a date that assures delivery prior to October 1, 2001.

6. Telecommunications carriers shall file tariffs by September 15, 2001 to be effective by January 1, 2002, that includes language for payphone owners to include on payphone signage that 711 is a free call to the California Relay Service.

7. The Commission shall add the following to Basic Service as defined in Commission Decision 96-10-066:

"(18.) Free access to CRS via the 711 abbreviated dialing code."

This Resolution is effective today.

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted by the Public Utilities Commission at its regular meeting on . The following Commissioners approved it:

WESLEY M. FRANKLIN Executive Director