Telephone
Service FAQ
Why
do you put the statement "Carrier XYZ is your new long distance
carrier", even when they have been our carrier for the last
3 years?
If
you did not make any long distance calls on the previous statement,
we are required by the FCC's "Truth in Billing Act"
to inform you of charges that did not appear on your previous
statement.
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How
can you change my long distance carrier without notifying me?
We
can not contact you when we get a request from a carrier to change
your long distance carrier. The FCC has really come down on carriers
slamming customers. The FCC does not tolerate this at all and
has notified carriers that they will fine anyone who continues
this practice. So they have told us any order for a PIC change
has to be processed as it states on the order. If a slamming has
occurred, then they have steps in place to correct the order made
without customers request or authorization.
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What
is slamming?
The
practice of switching a customers' long distance carriers without
authorization.
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Is
there anything that I can do to keep the same carrier and not
be changed?
You
can stop by the Nehalem Telecommunications
office and sign a PIC freeze. When you sign this agreement, it
allows us to contact you to let you know we have been issued an
order to change your carrier. You may choose to notify us at that
time, that you really want to change or you can have us return
it stating that you have a PIC freeze and do not want to change
carriers.
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How
come you send out the last page of my phone bill with just a few
lines on it? It seems a waste of paper.
We
are currently working with out billing company to correct this.
Your statements could appear slightly different in the next few
months.
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I
have received a bill from "XYZ" phone company and they
are not my long distance company. Do I need to pay it?
The
charge is usually from a collect call. The phone in which the
call is places is what determines what phone company bills the
call. We only bill for 3 carriers (AT&T, Qwest and Excel).
If you are not sure of the accuracy of the charges, call the company
that issued the bill and request more information.
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What
is (OUSF) or Oregon Universal Service Fund Surcharge?
The Oregon Universal Service Fund surcharge is to ensure that
basic telephone service is available in rural areas at a reasonable
and affordable rate within Oregon. The OUS fund was established
by the Oregon Public Utility Commission at the direction of the
1999 Oregon Legislative Assembly.
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What
is the Federal Universal Service Fund Surcharge?
It
is for the same purpose as above. The FCC does not require long
distance companies to pass this charge on to consumers, but many
choose to do so. This charge levels costs between states.
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What
is the Federal Excise Tax?
This
is a 3 percent tax levied on both local and long distance services,
and on the value of any airline miles rewarded by long distance
companies as incentive.
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What
is a Franchise charge?
Sometimes
listed as a Franchise Fee. This is a fee imposed on local phone
companies by most municipalities as payment for the company's
right to place telephone poles and wires along streets and other
rights of way. Cities may charge the local phone company up to
7% and most do. Four percent is included in phone companies' general
rates. The remaining balance appears on customers' bills and that
amount is collected from customers from inside the city limits.
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What
is the State 911 Tax?
The
fee is assessed on behalf of the State of Oregon, to pay for 911
emergency dispatch service, regardless of whether a household
has ever made a 911 call.
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What
is a SLC charge?
The
Subscriber Line Charge is required by the Federal Communications
Commission. It helps cover the local phone company's fixed costs
of operating and maintaining the local phone network, so customers
can make long distance calls. It applies whether or not the household
makes long distance calls.
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What
is the RSPF charge?
It
is listed as Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service or Residential
Service Protection Fund. This fee is used to provide telecommunications
devices and relay services for Oregon residents with speech and/or
hearing impairments. This service is required by the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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How
do I contact the Oregon PUC?
You
may contact the PUC in one of three ways.
By
Phone:
1-800-522-2404
By
E-mail:
puc.consumer@state.or.us
By Regular Mail:
State of Oregon Public Utility Commission
Consumer Services Division
550 Capitol St. NE, Suite 215
Salem, OR 97301-2551
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