1) Why did the Commission approve SBC-Oklahoma’s plan to drop Local Plus?
A) The Commission issued an order several years ago approving an SBC-Oklahoma request to offer the new Local Plus program on an experimental basis. Last fall SBC-Oklahoma announced plans to implement its option to either discontinue or substantially modify the program because the company was losing more than $20 million per year. The Commission requested the company to first educate and survey its customers to see if changes in usage patterns could reduce the loss and to more precisely determine how Local Plus was being used by customers, and how their needs could be met. As a result, the company developed a number of options designed to meet specific customer needs, such as those who used Local Plus for connecting to the Internet. Several of these options would result in significant savings to customers. The Commission approved a package of options on an experimental basis. The Commission will review the program six months after it takes effect, in order to ensure customers' needs are being met.
2) How were the new options to Local Plus developed?
A) The Commission asked SBC-Oklahoma to conduct a study of how Local Plus was being used by the plan’s subscribers. This study included public meetings in the communities where the plan is offered, as well as questionnaires on the company’s website. The company then used the data to develop alternatives for meeting the needs of Local Plus customers, which included the offering of lower-priced options.
3) Are these new options under Commission authority?
A) Yes. The Commission approved the options on July 11, 2003. Included in the Commission Order is the stipulation that the options can be reviewed by the Commission in six months to ensure customers’ needs are being met.
4) What does “IntraLATA” mean, and how does it apply to this issue?
A) LATA stands for “Local Access Transport Area.” Basically, it simply means a specific area of phone service. When it comes to Local Plus and its replacements, the 918 area code is one LATA, and the 405/580 area code is another LATA. The plan applies to numbers you call within (“Intra”) the LATA in which you reside.
5) How do I know which option to choose?
A) The first step is to closely review how you use your phone service. Some of the key questions you should ask yourself are:
i. How often do I make long distance calls within my LATA? How long, on average, do they last?
ii. How often do I make long distance calls outside my LATA? How long, on average, do they last?
iii. Do I need the phone for internet connection? If so, is the call to my internet service provider (ISP) local or long distance? Is it within my LATA? How long am I on the internet per month?
iv. Are the IntraLATA long distance numbers I call the most often SBC-Oklahoma numbers, or is one or more served by another phone company? (Note: SBC-Oklahoma customer service will be able to provide you this information, or you can simply ask the party served by the number in question.)
FOR DESCRIPTIONS AND EXAMPLES OF THE NEW CALLING OPTIONS FOR LOCAL PLUS CUSTOMERS, CLICK HERE.