Billed Party Preference for InterLATA 0+ Calls

The Commission adopted a combined Second Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration which amends the Commission's rules and policies governing the disclosure of rates that will be offered when an away-from-home caller dials a non-access code operator service followed by an interexchange number (0+ call). In the Report and Order, the Commission amends its rules to require operator services providers (OSPs) to disclose orally to such callers how to obtain the total cost of a call, before the call is connected. The Order also adopts rules governing the filing of OSP informational tariffs and adopts oral disclosure requirements with respect to interstate collect calls initiated by prison inmates. A carrier providing the latter service must orally inform the party to be billed for such a call of its identity and how to obtain its charges for a call before anyone may be billed for the call. The Commission's decision is intended to make consumers more informed of their right to receive such cost information at the point of purchase from long-distance carriers before a call is connected. In the Order on Reconsideration, the Commission denied petitions for reconsideration of its earlier decision in this proceeding concerning proprietary calling card practices of AT&T. That decision declined to adopt a ``0+ in the Public Domain'' proposal urged by AT&T competitors.