News from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission
Phone: (405)
522-2100, FAX: (405) 522-1623, www.occ.state.ok.us
August 30,
2002
COMMISSION
RECEIVES HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM BELL’S CUSTOMERS OVER ANNOUNCEMENT IT WILL
ELIMINATE UNLIMITED FLAT RATE “LOCAL PLUS” AND “ONE-PLUS TOLL SAVER” PLANS
Chairman Bode
promises a Thorough Hearing with Serious Consideration of all Evidence before
Changing or Eliminating any Calling Plan
(OKLAHOMA CITY) – They are coming in by e-mail, phone call, card
and letter. Hundreds of complaints from rural Oklahomans afraid of losing their
long distance savings plan with Southwestern Bell. It was early August when
Bell sent postcards and letters to customers of its “Local Plus” and “One Plus
Saver Direct” plans telling them that it would eliminate the plans by October
15 and replace them with another plan involving a fixed number of flat rate
minutes followed by a per minute charge. Within a few days the deluge of
complaints began and continues.
Chairman Denise Bode stated
“We will have a hearing on the Bell application and give serious consideration
to all of the evidence presented before we reach any decision to modify or
discontinue a calling plan that has benefited so many Oklahomans.”
While complaints have come
from dozens of small towns and cities in every area of the state, one of the
towns with the most complaints has been Rush Springs. Out of the 142
complaining e-mails and letters received so far by Jim Palmer, the Commission’s
Director of Information, more than 44 towns and counties are represented with
more than 20 percent of the complaints from Rush Springs and the nearby rural
area.
“Each e-mail I receive
regarding the long distance plans is forwarded to the Commission’s Public
Utilities Division and General Counsel’s office for placement in the public
comment file and for reference by the Commissioners and staff,” said Palmer.
Offices of all three
Commissioners and the agency’s Consumer Services Division have also received
hundreds of complaints. Commissioner Bob Anthony’s office has received more
than 450 total complaints by e-mail, phone, letter and cut-out forms from
newspapers. A large number of the complaints received by Anthony have come from
Seminole, Wewoka, Konawa and Maud. Chairman Denise Bode’s office
Page 2
indicates it has received
more complaints on this issue than any other. It reports about 120 phone and
e-mail complaints and Commissioner Ed Apple’s office at least
100. Bill Burnett, Director
of Consumer Services, says his office has fielded 208 complaints.
This is a particularly
sensitive issue with rural residents who do not have access to wide area calling like the major
metropolitan areas of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
One customer writes “I live
in Rush Springs where the area code is 580. The county seat, Chickasha, is in
the 405 area code…I already feel an unjust burden has been placed on those of
us who live in southern Grady county by the redrawing of the area code map. We
feel left out and unwanted by Southwestern Bell. Having to pay extra for
telephone service to our county seat already upsets me.”
Another Rush Springs area
resident writes “I am extremely disturbed that Southwestern Bell is trying to
discontinue the local plus calling plan. I live in a town where every call is
long distance without it.”
A third complaint reads “I
live in Rush Springs. The only means to internet services without huge phone
bills is the Local Plus plan with Southwestern Bell. The people in this area
can’t afford phone bills of $100 or $200 per month. The only means our school
children have to the internet is with the Local Plus.”
Others say “Our calling plan
is vital to our everyday life.” A disabled customer says “I am home bound so I
often talk with my family long distance.”
The flat rate calling plans
used by rural customers were modeled after similar plans in surrounding states
following complaints from Oklahoma customers to Southwestern Bell and the
Corporation Commission. Those complaints resulted in discussions on how best to
provide a flat rate long distance service for rural customers who must make
frequent long distance calls because they live outside of wide-area-calling. In
1998, the Commission ordered implementation of the flat rate toll saver plans
on a test basis. They have been in effect since then. The announcement of their
proposed elimination and what might replace them is still subject to review and
order by the Commission.
No hearing date has been set
for the Commission’s review of Southwestern Bell’s application.
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All OCC news releases and advisories are available for downloading or review on the OCC web site at www.occ.state.ok.us