News from the Oklahoma Corporation
Commission
Phone: (405)
521-4180, FAX: (405) 521-6945 m.skinner@occmail.occ.state.ok.us
July 17, 2003
The Corporation Commission is urging SBC-Oklahoma’s
Local Plus subscribers to take the time now to review how they use their phone
service, as there will soon be many more options available to them which offer
savings over the current Local Plus plan.
Commissioners Bob Anthony and Jeff Cloud say the
Commission has received numerous calls from Local Plus customers, particularly
those who use the plan to connect with an Internet service provider, who need
information on what their new choices will be.
“The bottom line is that the ‘one size fits all’
approach to meeting the long-distance needs of some rural telephone customers
will be replaced by consumer choice,” explained Commissioner Anthony. “The first step toward making an informed
choice that might save you money is to get a detailed understanding of what
your telephone service needs are.”
Commissioner Jeff Cloud says the concerns that some
have expressed regarding the calling plan changes are “understandable.”
“The one great advantage of Henry Ford’s ‘you can have any color as long as its
black’ approach to consumer choice for the Model T was that it was simple,”
said Cloud. “However, for the consumer to truly be empowered, there has to be
choice. The Local Plus customers who take the time to analyze their long
distance needs can realize savings.
“For example, if you’re a Local Plus customer and
you use your phone about an hour a day or less to make long distance calls to
various numbers within what’s called your LATA (either the 918 or 405/580
areas, depending on where you live) the new Toll Value plan should be
considered. At $31.95 a month, it offers a savings
(more)
(Local
Plus, pg. 2)
of
$1.05 a month over the current Local Plus rate,” explained Cloud. “Or perhaps
you only regularly make long distance calls to one
particular number within your LATA, such as to an Internet service provider
(ISP). You will have a plan available
that will give you about an hour-a-day’s long
distance to that number (2,000 minutes a month) for $17.95 a month, a savings
of $15.05 over Local Plus. If the ISP in question is also an SBC customer, you
can get unlimited long distance to its number for $19.95, and add a second
number for just $2.00 more. People could use this for the primary and back-up
numbers of their ISP.
“There are many other options and combinations of
options the customer should explore,” added Cloud. “Full details on the plans are available on the Commission’s web
site (www.occ.state.ok.us). There is
also a section on the web site which allows Oklahomans to e-mail us any
questions or concerns they have on this or any other matter under Commission
jurisdiction. And as always, all are welcome to call or write our offices with
their questions and comments.”
Commission Chairman Denise Bode said she wants to be
sure customers fully understand the choices they will be making.
“I am still hopeful the company will improve their
offer to consumers and develop a flat rate plan comparable to Local Plus that
will not diminish Internet access to rural Oklahomans,” said Bode.
Commissioner Anthony says the changes put the
Commission in a better position to help consumers.
“In response to a request from the Commission,
SBC-Oklahoma delayed cancellation of its Local Plus plan and surveyed its
customers through public meetings in the communities where the plan is offered,
as well as questionnaires on the company’s website. As a result SBC was able to develop a picture of customer needs
and design reasonable alternatives for meeting those needs, generally with
lower-priced options. SBC has told the Commission these are the best options
offered in the region. Local Plus was a
voluntary plan developed by SBC-Oklahoma.
However, the new options are being offered under Commission authority,
and will be reviewed by the Commission within six months to ensure that the new
plan is functioning to satisfy customers.”
-occ-
(All OCC advisories and news releases are available at the Commission web site www.occ.state.ok.us)