The Ohio PUC revised its minimum phone service standards after re...

enough to guarantee consumers receive adequate service on fair and reasonable terms. Among major revisions adopted in Case 05-1102-TP-ORD, the PUC eased its rule regarding bill credits for outages. Instead of requiring one day’s local service credit for each day out of service after the first day, the new rule requires one month’s local service credit if service is out for more than 72 hours, but nothing for outages of shorter duration. The PUC also cut in half, to 7 days from 14, the advance notice for any service disconnection. But it also imposed a new requirement that companies maintain 911 access on a line for 14 days after a disconnection for nonpayment. The PUC repealed state service quality regulations for payphones, instead requiring that payphone owners provide service according to current federal rules. The rules stipulate that carriers’ bills must be consistent with federal truth-in- billing requirements. The PUC also imposed a cap on what payment agents can charge for collecting phone bill payments. The PUC staff had recommended a $5 cap but the PUC set it at double the cost of a first-class postage stamp, making the fee 78. The PUC also reinstated a former requirement that local service providers identify and give priority restoration in disasters and emergencies to customers having medical or other life-threatening conditions. The rules also require carriers, within 10 days after signing customers up for new services, to confirm the services, rates and terms the customer consented to in a welcome letter to the customer. Previously, this could be taken care of verbally. The customer has 30 days from receipt of the letter to cancel or change the new service without penalty.