Message from the Consumers' Counsel:

Telephone tool keeps consumers informed of choices

Increases for basic local services at AT&T and Cincinnati Bell, as well as hikes for features such as Call Waiting and Call Forwarding for Verizon customers, could be making consumers think what rate will go up next? Prices for many utilities have risen, so searching for an alternative telephone provider, where available, may be an option to consider.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility advocate, has worked diligently to provide Ohioans with the tools they need to make informed choices when comparing prices and deciding which company they want to provide their telephone service.

The OCC has compiled a list of available telephone providers in the AT&T and Verizon service areas so consumers can compare services and prices. These choices take a comprehensive look at the packages and services available from several competitive providers throughout Ohio.

There are 14 different companies competing to provide service to customers in various parts of AT&T’s service territory. Customers in the Verizon territory have six competitive providers from which to choose. When deciding which company will provide your local service, the first step is to research your telephone usage and current plan by asking yourself:

• How many local calls do I make each month from my home telephone?
• How many long-distance minutes do I use each month from my home telephone?
• What features currently appear on my monthly bill? Which of these features do I actually use?
• How much do I currently pay per month for local service?
• How much do I currently pay per month for all home telephone services (local and long distance)?

When consumers are ready to sign up for service, it is important to get all the details about the plans and completely read the terms and conditions before signing up for service. The OCC has developed a complete list of the questions consumers should get answers to when comparing your telephone choices.

The OCC is always available to help answer questions on telephone choice or other utility issues by calling toll free at 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622).

Best regards,

Janine L. Migden-Ostrander