News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Guest Communications, a Texas-based private pay telephone company, has been cited by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for violation of Oklahoma telephone rules at five locations where it operates 33 pay telephones.

Consumer Services Division investigators said none of the phones have signs that provide required consumer information, and 17 phones at two locations do not provide a connection for 911 emergency calls.

The citation also alleges that the Austin, Texas, company has failed to pay the full amount of a $1,000 fine levied in June for conducting pay phone business in Oklahoma without a license.

The Corporation Commission staff is seeking fines for violation of Oklahoma telephone rules, revocation of Guest Communications’ authority to provide pay telephone service in Oklahoma and an order directing local service telephone companies to stop providing connections to the company’s pay telephones.

The telephones are table-mounted instruments in truck-stop type restaurants that accept only credit card and third-party billings.

A hearing on the complaint has been scheduled for Dec. 2 before a commission administrative law judge in Oklahoma City.

-occ-