Title 20 Public Service Commission Subtitle 45 SERVICE SUPPLIED BY TELEPHONE COMPANIES Chapter 06 Payphone Service 20.45.06.01 Registration 20.45.06.02 Service Quality Requirements 20.45.06.03 Posting and Informational Requirements 20.45.06.04 Attestation to Local Exchange Company 20.45.06.05 Directory Assistance Charges/Coinless Capabilities 20.45.06.06 Equipment Requirements 20.45.06.07 Penalties Authority: Public Utility Companies Article, 2-113, 2-121, 4-201-4-203, and 4-301, Annotated Code of Maryland Notice of Proposed Action The Public Service Commission proposes to repeal regulation 20.45.06 Coin Service and replace it with a new regulation 20.45.06 Payphone Service. The proposed action was considered by the Public Service Commission at a scheduled rulemaking meeting on, notice of which was given under State Government Article, 10-506 (c), Annotated Code of Maryland. Statement of Purpose The purpose of this action is to repeal obsolete text in this regulation and to replace it with new text that sets forth the registration, annual reporting and fee requirements for payphone service providers operating in the state. The new text also provides service standards and notice requirements for payphone service providers providing coin and coinless telephone service in the state. Penalties for violations of these requirements are also set forth. The new text is intended to simplify compliance with Commission requirements and to encourage payphone service providers to continue to provide payphone telephone service to all locations. Comparison to Federal Standards There is no corresponding federal standard to this proposed action. Estimate of Economic Impact This proposed action has no economic impact. Economic Impact on Small Business This proposed action has minimal or no economic impact on small business.
Opportunity for Public Comment Comments may be sent to O. Ray Bourland, Executive Secretary, Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-6806, or fax to (410) 333-6495, or call (410) 767-8067. These comments must be received by -----------------..01 Registration A. Registration. Prior to providing pay telephone service a person shall complete and file a payphone service provider registration form provided by the Commission. B. Annual Registration. (1) A payphone service provider shall file an annual registration report with the Commission by April 1 st of each year. (2) The annual registration report shall be on a form provided by the Commission and include the: payphone service provider; (a) Name of the payphone service provider; (b) Location address of each active pay telephone owned or operated by (c) Telephone number of each active pay telephone owned or operated by the payphone service provider; and (d) Local exchange carrier for each active pay telephone owned or operated by the payphone service provider. C. Proprietary Information. A payphone service provider may request that documents filed under A and B of this regulation be designated as proprietary. D. Annual Assessment. A payphone service provider shall pay the annual
assessment required by Public Utility Companies Article, 2-110, Annotated Code of Maryland..02 Pay Telephone Service Requirements A. Local Calls. (1) After an initial 10 minutes of pay telephone use for a local call, a payphone service provider may impose an additional per minute charge for the use of the pay telephone. (2) The payphone service provider shall post the initial charge and any additional per minute charges as required under Regulation.03 of this chapter. (3) If an additional per minute charge is associated with a pay telephone, the payphone service provider shall ensure that the pay telephone has a verbal warning to a user that the initial paid call period is ending and instructions on how to continue the call. B. Incoming Calls. Except as provided in C of this regulation, all pay telephones shall receive incoming calls without charge. C. Blocking Incoming Calls. If approved by the Commission, a payphone service provider may block incoming calls to a pay telephone..03 Posting and Informational Requirements A. Posting Required. A payphone service provider shall prominently and conspicuously post on or near each pay telephone notification of: (1) The proper dialing sequence to complete a call; (2) The local coin rate or a procedure to obtain free rate information for exclusively card operated or coinless pay telephone;
(3) The name and address of the payphone service provider and the operator service provider; (4) The payphone service provider s and the operator service provider's toll free number or an equivalent free local or speed-dial number for maintenance and refunds; (5) A toll free number for the current long distance carrier; (6) A statement that the Commission has authority over the payphone service provider, the long distance carrier and the operator service provider; (7) The Commission s toll free number; and (8) If approved by the Commission under Regulation.02C if this chapter, a statement that incoming calls are blocked. B. Directory Assistance Charges. A payphone service provider shall: (1) Post a notice or verbally inform a pay telephone user of a charge for directory assistance; or (2) Post notification of the procedure to obtain free rate information for calls to directory assistance..04 Attestation to Local Exchange Company. A payphone service provider shall provide to a local exchange company providing dial tone to its pay telephone a one time written attestation that the payphone service provider has or will obtain the appropriate certification, permit or authorization from the responsible government entity, property owner or lessee for placement of a pay telephone in Maryland.
.05 Directory Assistance Charges and Charge-Free Calls A. Directory Assistance. A payphone service provider may charge a user for a directory assistance call. B. Charge Free Calling. A payphone service provider shall permit a user of its pay telephone to reach any of the following without remuneration: (1) A toll free number; (2) The Universal Emergency Number 911 Services by dialing "911"; (3) The telecommunications relay service; and (4) A local operator by dialing 0-Minus (0-)..06 Equipment Requirements A. Telephone Directories. A payphone service provider shall provide both white and yellow page telephone directories on an annual basis for all indoor pay telephone locations, and for outdoor pay telephone locations when requested by the site owner. B. Height and Hearing Requirements. A payphone service provider shall comply with Maryland and federal height and hearing aid compatibility regulations when installing a pay telephone. C. Access to Interexchange Carriers. A payphone service provider shall ensure that its pay telephone: (1) Permits access to all interexchange carriers; and (2) Allows completion of local and long distance calls in Maryland.
D. Coin Capability. (1) Except as provided under D (2)of this regulation, a payphone service provider shall ensure that its pay telephone is capable of: (a) Accepting nickels, dimes, and quarters; and (b) Handling sent-paid long distance other than sent-paid person-to person calls. (2) A coinless pay telephone that is exclusively card operated is not required to accept coin payment. E. Coin Return. A payphone service provider shall ensure that a coin operated pay telephone returns a deposited coin if a called telephone number is busy or not answered. F. Amplified Handset. A payphone service provider shall install: (1) An amplified handset on a pay telephone that replaces a telephone with an amplified handset; or (2) One pay telephone with an amplified handset for every four pay telephones in a single telephone bank..07 Penalties Failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter may result in the imposition of a civil penalty or other sanctions under Public Utility Companies Article, Maryland Annotated Code, including the disconnection of the pay telephone service and the revocation of a payphone service provider s registration.