Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

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Consumers’ Counsel advocates to keep telephone consumer protections in place

Proposed change would allow more disconnections

COLUMBUS, Ohio — September 5, 2008 — corrected copy – A move to eliminate part of an Ohio consumer protection rule would make it easier for telephone companies to disconnect some customers and should be rejected, according to the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate. The OCC and other consumer groups will file their response today to initial comments made by telephone companies, which have largely supported the rule change.

The proposal by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio’s (PUCO) staff would eliminate a safety net for telephone customers with bundled services who are not able to pay their entire bill. Bundled services are packages of products which may include a basic dial tone along with features such as call waiting, and unregulated services ranging from dish satellite television to Internet.

Currently, customers can keep their local service by making partial payments on their bill. The OCC is asking the PUCO to ensure customers with bundled services can at least keep their essential, basic dial tone connection, which has been the case for the better part of 20 years in Ohio.

“Consumer protections for basic dial tone are critical,” said Janine Migden-Ostrander, Consumers’ Counsel. “If consumers are more easily disconnected because they can not pay for extra services, more than 20 years of PUCO efforts to keep consumers connected to a dial tone will be undone. Telephone service is the lifeline Ohioans need for essential communications such as calls to their doctor and checking on their children.”

Basic dial tone service is regulated by the PUCO. Traditional local telephone companies such as AT&T, Embarq, Verizon, Cincinnati Bell, Windstream and many competitive providers must follow the PUCO’s Minimum Telephone Service Standards, which include disconnection and payment rules.

About the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the residential utility consumer advocate, represents the interests of 4.5 million households in proceedings before state and federal regulators and in the courts. The state agency also educates consumers about electric, natural gas, telephone and water issues and resolves complaints from individuals. To receive utility information, brochures, schedule a presentation or file a utility complaint, residential consumers may call 1-877-PICKOCC (1-877-742-5622) toll free in Ohio or visit the OCC website at www.pickocc.org.