ilya@polya.stanford.edu (Ilya Goldberg) (08/16/89)
Just got this notice with this month's bill from Pacific Bell.
It seems that they (CPUC) want to increase the regulation of payphones.
The leaflet is only a summary of the complete proposal on which hearings
have been scheduled. Here is the text of the main points:
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1. Rate stability - The price of local calls from all pay phones will
be 20c per call, for five years.
2. Free access to necessary services - All pay phones will provide free
access to emergency, repair, directory assistance, "800" numbers, and
the local telephone company Operators when users dial "0".
3. Clear signs and instructions - All pay phones will have clear signs
indicating rates, dialing instructions, free access, the identity of the
pay phone vendor, and the long-distance carrier serving the phone.
4. Enforcement - Prices approved by the CPUC will be enforced.
5. New "Pay Station" Service Charge - An additional charge of 30c may
be charged for each "0+" call (i.e. collect calls, calls billed to
third numbers or credit cards). This charge is a new rate and is in
addition to the 40c surcharge applied to calling card calls or the
$1.00 surcharge applied to collect calls.
{comment: Pac bell charges 40c for credit card calls, at&t charges
80c. I am not sure if this 30c surcharge will apply to
all "0+" calls or only intra-lata "0+" calls}
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It seems that there is a compromise being made between the pay phone
service providers and customers. Customers get points 1+2 in exchange
for the new charge in point 5. Well, it seems that customers lose!
Before the competition was allowed, customers already had all the
benefits mentioned above provided by the BOC which owned all payphones.
Now, if the customers agree to pay an extra 30c for credit card and
collect calls, the benefits will remain. And I thought competition was
allowed in order to reduce prices!
Ilya Goldberg
ilya@polya.stanford.edu