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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20060912Workpapers 2.pdfGIVE SLEY LLP. LAW OFFICES 601 W. Bannock Street PO Box 2720, Boise, Idaho 83701 TELEPHONE: 208 388-1200 FACSIMILE: 208388-1300 . WEBSITE: www.givenspursley.com ". . ' ~ry G. Allen Kristen A. Atwood Keliy T. Barbour " : Christopher J. Beeson 'William C. Cole Michael C. Creamer Thomas E. Dvorak Roy Lewis Eiguren Jeffrey C. Fereday Martin C. Hendrickson Steven J. Hippler Debora K. Kristensen Anne C. Kunkel Jeremy G. Ladle ' '. Via Hand Deliverv May 16, 1006 Daniel Klein Idaho Public Utilities Commission 472 W. Washington O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 Franklin G. Lee David R. Lombardi John M. Marshall Kenneth R. McClure Kelly Greene McConnell Cynthia A. Melillo Christopher H. Meyer L. Edward Miller Patrick J. Miller Judson B. Montgomery Angela K. Nelson Deborah E. Nelson W. Hugh O'Riordan, LL.M. Bradley V. Sneed H. Barton Thomas, LL.M. J. Will Varin Conley E. Ward Robert B. White Kenneth L. Pursley RETIRED Raymond D. Givens RETIRED James A. McClure RETIRED Re:In the Matter ofthe Investigation or Rural Telephone Company s Compliance with Commission Rules, Case No. RUR-06- Dear Mr. Klein: In response to your request for clarification and additional information regarding the above-referenced Commission inquiry, I am forwarding the following attached documents: Copy of job description for Rural Telephone Company s Engineer/CADD; Copy of job description for Rural Telephone Company s CO Technician; Copy of revised Telephone Service Application that incorporates effective rate for IT AP and several minor clerical edits; Copy of Application for Telephone Service indicating the basis for showing this line as a business listing; With respect to your question concerning the expected battery life for the batteries installed at the two remote facilities serving Atlanta residents, the manufacturer s written warranty to Rural Telephone was that the batteries were fully guaranteed for four years. The manufacturer s representative orally told Rural Telephone personnel that it could expect the full battery life to be approximately eight years. New batteries were installed in 2000. With respect to your request for clarification concerning the duration of the service outage that occurred beginning on November 22 2005, Rural was unable to clear the outage until November 30, 2005 because it was unable to access the Trinity remote site until that date. This occurred because the pilot for the helicopter service Rural Telephone uses refused to fly each of the intervening days due to various weather related conditions (fog, wind, snow/ice). One flight was actually made during this time period, but the pilot was unable to land and had to return to the pick up site. The pilot was able to take technicians to Trinity Mountain on Daniel Klein May 16, 2006 Page 2 November 30th and those panels were cleared. Unfortunately, that night a severe snow and ice storm covered the panels again. Also, Rural was advised by customers in Atlanta at the time that there actually was some intermittent service during this period. Rural believes this intermittent service resulted from brief periods when the batteries could begin recharging during the day that were interrupted at nightfall because the batteries were not able to fully charge. Rural is working with its consultant to revise the open trench and the off-premises extension tariffs and will be providing that shortly. If you have any questions regarding this information please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Gf4~ Michael C. Creamer Enclosures cc:Rural Telephone Company MCC:kdt S:ICLIENTSII716\28\MCCLelter loDaniel Klein.DOC Susan Case To: Subject: Michael C. Creamer FW: Sample summary of rules job des CO technician. doc; Job Des Engineer CADD.doc; Susan Case - 05-11-06 - KWXK8CZ.pdf; Telephone Application - ID,doc Attachments: job des CO Job Des Engineer Susan Case - Telephone :echnician.doc (28.. CADD.doc (32... 15-11-06 - KWXK8c.~pplication - ID.doc.. - Job Descriptions - CADD & CO Tech See Attachment - Copy of credit Denial Provided by Mike Creamer - Copy of revised Application See Attachment Tariff Advises for open trench and E-911 off premise extension are in progress. - Jan Wills set up account as a business (customer s request) Customer wanted to be listed as the "Hub" and personally. Please see attached (05-11-06 -KWXK8CZ) customer application for business service - Battery life expectancy was 100% guaranteed by the manufacturer for 4 years with a verbal that we could expect the full battery life around 8 years. These new batteries were installed in 2000. - The reason the 11/22 outage was not cleared until 11/30 was because that was how long it took before we could fly to Trinity. The pilot refused to fly each day due to various weather related conditions (fog, wind, snow/ice). One flight was actually made during this time frame however the pilot could not land and had to return to the pick up site. The pilot was able to take the techs to Trinity on 11/30 and the panels were cleared. Unfortunately, that night a severe snow and ice storm covered the panels again. - The PUC promulagated highlighted rules are in our directory. The rules are located throughout the directory. We have the required information plus much more. Please refer to the PUC list of promulagated rule highlights. Attached is a copy of our proposed directory pages to be forwarded to publisher. -----Original Message-----From: Michael C. Creamer (mailto:mcc~givenspursley.com) Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 2:39 PM To: Mark R. Martell; mark~rtci.net?; Susan Case Subj ect: FW: Sample summary of rules Please see attached from Daniel at the IPUC. He says that the QWest summary rules are the best ones he s seen and he recommends this format/wording to other telcos. Here s my updated list of items Daniel is expecting: - two additional job descriptions - copy of credit denial form letter - copy of revised application form addressing changed surcharges and typo issue - two tarrif advices - Explanation why Jane Wills is listed as business - statement of battery life/last changeout for remote site batteries - explanation of why what is shown as an 11/2/05 outage was not cleared until 11/30. - Summary of Rules (see attached example) Daniel said if you are not a long distance carrier, the LD and WATS rules don t need to be published. RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY JOB DESCRIPTION EMPLOYEE: OFFICE LOCATION: REPORT TO: JOB TITLE: DEPARTMENT:asp Engineer' CADD asp Manager OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Plan and prepare drawings for construction of new or existing underground or aerial lines, cable and conduit. The duties of this position would include creating, maintaining, and updating Auto CAD drawings for the Engineering department. PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Plan and prepare drawings for construction of new and removal or rearrangement of existing underground or aerial lines, cables and conduits. Analyze traffic loads, available and existing lines. Create, maintain, and update Auto CAD drawings for cable and plant records for existing and proposed facilities. Forecasts or estimates projected traffic to determine new construction. Select routing of lines and determines equipment requirements. Prepares detailed construction and installation drawings and estimates equipment, labor and material costs. Preserve the confidential nature of the company s business and adhere to the highest ethical standards and loyalty when representing and dealing with the fellow employees, customers and other company representatives. Perform other tasks and duties that may be permanently or temporarily assigned. Hold down expenditures and preserve the economic welfare of the Company. Agreed To: Approved By: Date: Date: RURAL TELEPHONE CaMP ANY JOB DISCRIPTION Employee: Office Location: Report To: OSP Manager The overall objective of my department is: To optimize company performance by enhancing operational and professional workmanship. My major function is: Perform repair and installation of telephone telecommunication equipment and oversee its Central Office operations. This is a Lead position. Essential duties include installation, provisioning, maintenance and testing of a wide variety of central office facilities and equipment including IP voice, video and data switching equipment, IP gateways, SONET, OSLAM and OLC systems. Incumbent responsible for monitoring the quality, performance and utilization of interconnection facilities to include toll Extended Area Service, Local Interconnection Service and special circuits. Job Title: CO Technician Department: Outside Plant In order of importance, the principal responsibilities: 1. Perform preventive maintenance on all parts of plant. 2. Respond to all outside plant repair or installation calls telephone. 3. Respond to all outside plant repair or installation calls cable TV 4. Respond to outside plant emergency calls. 5. Installs, maintains, and services telephone lines, cable, subscriber carrier systems, terminals, protection devices, and customer-owned equipment. 6. Diagnose and repair trouble in switching equipment, voice frequency repeaters, loop extenders, and cable loading systems. 7. Oversee daily operations of the central office. 8. To preserve the confidential nature of the company s business and adhere to the highest ethical standards and loyalty when representing the dealing with the company, customers, other companies and other employees. 9. To perform any other tasks and duties that may be permanently or temporarily assigned to me from time to time. 10. To hold down expenditures and preserve the economic welfare of the Company, To schedule, perform and submit my persona1 perfonnance review annual1y, at my hire date anniversary, Rural Telephone Company - Idaho (RTC) Telephone Service Application 892 W. Madison Avenue Glenns Ferry, 10 83623 (888) 366-7821 Toll Free www.rtcLnet Service Address ~", TELEPHONE COMPANY Mailing Address City State Zip Daytime #(- ) - E-mail Requested Install Date Applicant or Business Name CREDIT INFORMATION (please print) Co-Applicant Name 8i1h oae ---1-SS# Drivas LQ# Birth oae ---1---1- SS# Drivers LQ#SIae SIae Wak# 0 OM! 0 Rat L.amd Na'ne Hre oae Efr4:bIer. Wak#(_Hie Dae Refererce Ncrre: Ph Ref Ph Lease oae R~ .Ad:Iress:Ciy Slate ZiJ rrAP#Idaho Telephone Assistance Program (If eligible) Pra.bJs Ad:Iress Stm/PO ity revlous one PrtMxJs Ph.re Ca1la1Y.I:BD Ii1eCtoae DIRECTORY LISTING Putished 0 Non-PuIished (not in Directory Assistance orPhone Book $4.00 fee)0 Nonti;ted (not in phone book $3.00 fee) PlW1ed Dieday Nane( S) pi1 Irs reet Address cit Additional listings ($1.50/month)I-I IF NON-PUBLISHED NON-LISTED: You have the option to request RTC to withhold your billing name and address from interstate carriers and service providers. By choosing to withhold name & address you may be unable to place third number call or receive collects calls from certain Long Distance Carrier s. Your signature below confirms you understand these restrictions and still request RTC to withhold billing name and address from interstate carriers and service providers. Signature LONG DISTANCE CARRIER(S) IntraLATA Long Distance PIC CODE InterLATA Lona Distance PIC CODE PREFERRED CARRIER FREEZE REQUEST (optiona/) Until such time that I notify RTC to the contrary, I desire that the carrier selections indicated above for the long distance service be frozen for my account.I understand this will retain the companies designated above as my primary IntraLATA and InterLATA carriers.This will prevent "slamming" or switching of carriers without my prior authorization.I further understand that this means I may not change carriers without verifiable written or oral notification to RTC to remove this freeze. These steps are in addition to the FCC's verification rules that carriers must follow before changing a customers preferred carrier. Signature Date AUTOMATIC PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION (optional) ACCEPT DECLINE *Please comDlete auto Dav form included. LOCAL SERVICE & CONNECTION FEES Residential Flat Rate - $21.63 - 24.1 0 / mo. (does NOT include taxes listed below; st fed tax will be added as appropriate) Business Flat Rate - $40.68 - 42.00 /month (does NOT include taxes listed below; state federal tax will be added appropriate) Fees Include: FCC single line charge $6.50; FCC multi line charge $920; County E-911 $1.00; Res. IUSF Tax $0.12; Bus. IUSF Tax $020; ITAP $0. Connection Fees: Line Connection $15. Service Order Charge $10. Premise Visit (if needed)$40. Inside Wiring Installation $60.per hour with a minimum one-hour charge Includes labor, materials & travel. Please allow (5) business days for service. ALL CUSTOMERS PLEASE READ AND SIGN: I hereby request telephone service from Rural Telephone Company and agree to abide by all provisions of its tariff as approved by the PUG, including but not limited: deposit requirements, installation fee, payment obligations, and any other rules that may apply. The subsaiber is responsible for their own inside wiring, connecting jacks, and other phone equipment. If requested, these items may be installed. All applicable time and materials will be billed on the customer telephone bill. I certify that the information provided herein, is oorrect and true. I also certify that the directory listings shown herein are correct. Telephone bills are due upon receipt and considered late 3 weeks after billing date. Further, I agree to pay reasonable attorney fees, cout oosts and collection costs if the Company is required to take any action to collect any amounts due for the provision of service or to enforce any tenns of its tariffs. Signature Date Signature Date ::c' ;u.:1 :1\ .. .. ~~:, , ::' ;~1~~ ':' , -;'":::j.':, ':":"'. ii, '\',:,:::, ' Is address marked on property?Yes Is residence a:Mobile HouseD Under Construction Driving Directions: The U. S, Deparlment of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race color. national origin sex religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orlentaJion or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs) Persons with disabilities 000 requiTe alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Genrer at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TOO). To file complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, 'Director. Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, 'Whitten Building, 1 tf' and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voi9ce and TOD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Voluntary Information: Equal Opportunity 0 White (not of Hispanic origin)Black (not of Hispanic origin)DHispanic 0 American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander I d-C(f)LI7 Rural Telephone Comp AJ!plication for Telephone Service D. Complete ;::~1r /-- (Please Print)Business (~esidence ( Billinf! Information Exchange ~(~~~/12J- (Middle Initial) 6'158 :::;::: i) If ?) roo Jf:!Y (State) (Zip) 0/ sf. ,,/ :IJl) ~~o r (/ riflf 111)1;(State) (Zip) ~~~/ Please provide a number where you can be reached. r:QC1? -~ /p(./- jtJ7 men~ f:. ~ -\- SOCI 01 Secunty # a:zi .8L 111 C/'i Employer -4 ""I ~"" I-~Position: Years with Company Phone # OlZJJ?-~O Spouse Name fl/ -:J.~curir; ~ ~ '7 tLC- W (j~ Name:LUI C) . (Last) (First) Mailing Address:Y. O. Be') /-- ::;z; IfN Physical Address: 1/1/ t1a A-f-LIi-I1 +A (City Maj) Address: Spouse Employer Years with Company Phone# Previous Telephone Service Previous Telephone Company: QLJdlL)f- . -. , r Previous Telephone #dt)b-3t1-gUZ- Estimated Monthly Charges: (Local) ~f), do If tTt (Ton) Credit History: (Check One) Letter of Credit (Enclose a copy of the letter) $100 Deposit (Deposit refunded in 6 months with good history ofbiH payment) Directory Listinf! Information (Check one) Regular listed Number Non-published Number Unlisted NumberRe~ular listed number - Each ustomer is allowed, tree of charge, one listing in the Local Directory. The telephonenumber is provided to the directory assistance operator tro distribution to asking parties. Non-published Number - Directory assistance operator DOES NOT provide your number to anyone, not is it listedin any telephone directory. Unlisted Number - Directory assistance operator DOES provide your number to asking parties, but it is not listed inany telephone directory. If you want a listed number, how do you wish for the listing to appear in the Directory? -rA fl/I;; (Please Print) 09. Residential Customers. "Residential customers" shall mean persons to whom telecommunication services are furnished at a ~wel1i~ are : . ~or domestic n!!II!JI!I and not for busIness, IIIIIIIIIfII! or IDsht1JtIonal 1II!I:I1JIID3. See Section 62- 10. Residential Telephone Service. "Residential telephone service " means telecommunication .service furnished and main~ained ~ priIIl~or domestic n!!II!JI!I and not for busIness or !n,stJtut.onal ID!IIIJIIIIJ, i., service provided to residential customers as defined in Section 62- 603(7), Idaho Code. 11. Small Business Customers, "Small business customers " shall mean a businessentity, whether an i ndividual, partnership, corporatio~r business telecommunication services are furnished for 11181111118111, in:stltufiolud and which business entity does not subscribe to more than five (5) access lines within a building. See Section 62-603(a), Idaho Code. Response No. 18: Any entity that performs services or functions for business, institutional, individual sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association, other business or institutional form for occupational, professional or institutional purposes. What's Inside Doing Business With Us... About the Directory Rates, Rules & Regulations Consumer Rights Service & Billing Local Calling What Should I Know First? Customer Information Reporting Troubles Special Services Advanced Services Custom Calling Features Long Distance Calling International Calling Other Directory Guide Information RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY Busi ness Office 892 W. Madison Avenue Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 Office Hours 8:00am - 5:00pm MST Monday - Friday (Except Holidays) Toll Free Local 888-366-7821 366-2614 After Hours Emergency 888-366- 7821 , Ext. 14 A technician/repairman is on call during weekends and holidays through an automated answering system. Please leave your name , number, address and a brief description of the problem you are experiencing with your telephone. About the Directory How willi be listed in the phone book? Generally, your name, address and phone number appear in your listing. You may request an alteration, such as listing just your name and no address, or using an initial instead of a full first name. You will be listed once in the White Pages without charge. The following options are also available (however, additional charges will apply): Additional Listings Even if your telephone service is in someone'else s name, you may request an additional directory listing in your name. Other family members may be added to your listing. Additional listings may also give someone who is already listed extra exposure. Non-Listed Service You may omit your listing from the White Pages, but retain it in our Directory Assistance records. Non-Published Service For privacy,you may omit your listing from the White Pages and our Directory Assistance records. For information about changing your listing (business or residential) please call Rural Telephone Company customer service representative toll free at 888-366--7821. How may I receive additional phone books? If you need additional copies of this directory, please contact Rural Telephone Company toll free at 888-366-7821. Rate, Rules & Regulations The Company's rates, rules and regulations applicable to its services are regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of your state and are available for inspection at our business office. Copies of these regulations may be obtained by contacting our business office toll free at 1-888-366- 7821 or by contacting the Public Utilities Commission in your state. IDAHO Public Utilities Commission 800-432-0369 NEVADA Public Utilities Commission 800-992-0900 website:www.fcc.aov Customer Complaints and Disputes What to do when you have complaint? If you experience a problem with your telephone service or billing, please contact our office toll free at 1-888-366-7821. Our personnel are trained to handle service and billing situations. However, if you are unsatisfied with the explanation provided , don t hesitate to ask for a supervisor. A customer may make a formal or informal complaint to the Public Utilities Commission for further review of the dispute or complaint. Telephone Company shall not terminate service while a complaint is pending. IDAHO Public Utilities Commission 800-432-369 O. Box 83720 Boise, 1083720-0074 www.Duc.idaho.aov NEVADA Public Utilities Commission 800-992-0900 1150 E. William Street Carson City, NV 89701 http://puc.state.nv.us/ Service & Billing ESTABLISHING TELEPHONE SERVICE AT YOUR HOME Visit or Call our Business Office If you prefer to call us, a customer service representative will help with orders for service and equipment billing matters, rates and inquiries or complaints. Our representatives are there to see that you are completely satisfied. Our toll free number is (888) 366-7821. Information Needed for your Order 1. Complete street address (apt. number if applicable), 2. The type of telecommunication service you want. 3. How you would like your directory listing to appear. Two people with the same last name living at the same address may have their first names listed at no charge.4. Information about previous telephone service.5. Other credit information an identification (such as a picture 10). To Establish Credit You need only to provide evidence of your current ability to pay and meetone of the following basic requirements. If you have been a customer of any other telephone company in the continental United States and have a letter of credit from the telephone company or if a letter of credit can not be obtained a refundable deposit is required. A Deposit May be Required A deposit may be required if you have had an unsatisfactory payment record with any telephone company or if you have not supplied adequate credit information. The deposit amount is based on the average billing for two months local service and two months long distancecharges. If your service is disconnected due to late payment and there is either no deposit or an insufficient deposit, a new additional deposit may be required to continue service. Deposits Earn Interest A deposit with interest is refunded on your account after 12 consecutive months of payment history withoutsuspension for non-payment. However, the deposit will continue tobe held as security if satisfactory credit has not been established. If telephone service is permanently disconnected the deposit with interest is applied to your final bill. Prompt Payment = Good Credit Your credit standing is determined by the payment promptness of your phone bill. Payments should be received at our office by the payment due date indicated on your bill. We will Pre-Wire a New Home or Addition If you are building a new home or remodeling a home, we can install telephone wires before the walls areput up. Often this means your telephones can be installed more neatly. S e rv ice & Bill i n 9 con tin u e d .. . WHERE TO PAY YOUR BILL Telephone bills may be paid at the following locations - Corporate Office Rural Telephone Corp. Office 892 W. Madison Avenue Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 Business Hours 8:00am - 5:00pm MST Monday - Friday Complaints regarding phone service should be reported immediately. Please call the business office: Toll Free Local (888) 366-7821 366-2614 Service Difficulties Every effort is devoted toward providing you with the best telephoneservice. We appreciate your cooperation in promptly reporting service troubles. Repairs to equipment and inside wiring require a charge. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BILL How can I get service restored if it has been temporarily disconnected for non-payment? All past due charges, billed for service must be paid before your service canbe reconnected. There will be a charge to reconnect your service and a deposit may also be required. What should I do about questions or mistakes on my bill? Call our office and ask to speak to acustomer service representative. Service representatives can answer questions, investigate possible errors and provide information regarding your bill. Charges for disputed items will be removed within two billing cycles from the date the customer notifies the Company. Is there a charge for returned checks? If your check is returned to us by the bank, a returned check charge of twenty dollars ($20) will be applied to your account and appear on your next regular billing statement. This fee must be paid with cash or a money order. Application of Business Rates The use of telephone service for business purposes will automatically subject that service to business rates, regardless of the type of premises on which the telephone service is installed. Automatic Answering Machines Long distance charges apply to station calls made to telephones with automatic answering machines. Charging begins when the called telephone is answered by the automatic answering machine. Local Calling Region The prefix(es) listed beside your community (communities) listed below represent your local calling areas. This information was current as of December 2005. Local Calling in Idaho Mountain Home Caldwell Boise Boise River Bruneau Emmett Fruitland Glenns Ferry Grandview Grasmere/Riddle Idaho City Kuna Melba )Meridian Middleton Nampa New Plymouth Nu Acres Payette Prairie Shoup Star Weiser Local Calling in Nevada Calls may be made without a toll charge between the following exchanges, providing the use of direct dial: North Fork, NV"'" Tuscarora, NV Three Creek, ID"'" Jarbidge, NV ..... Dial One Metro Customers may make unlimited calls from the Red Rock/Antelope Valley exchanges to Reno for an additional five dollars ($5.00) per month. Those prefixes include: Application of Business Rates The use of telephone service for business purposes will automatically subject that service to business rates, regardless of the type of premises on which the telephone service is installed. Automatic Answering Machines Long distance charges apply to station calls made to telephones with automatic answering machines. Charging begins when the called telephone is answered by the automatic answering machine. Local Calling Region The prefix(es) listed beside your community (communities) listed below represent your local calling areas. This information was current as ofDecember 2005. Local Calling for Boise River, Prairie and Tipanuk Mountain Home (580, 587, 828, 832) Caldwell (453, 454 455, 459) Boise (* Boise River (653) Bruneau (845) Emmett (365. 398. 477) Fruitland (452, 546) Glenns Ferry (366) Grandview (834) Grasmere/Riddle (759) Idaho City (392) Kuna (922) Melba (495) Meridian (288, 706, 822, 846, 855, 844, 887, 888, 893, 895. 898) Middleton (585) Nampa (442 461 463 465 466 467 468) New Plymouth (278) Nu Acres (566 570 674 707) Payette (642) Prairie (868) Star (286) Weiser (549) Local Calling for Shoup, ID (394, 756, 865) Local Calling in Nevada Calls may be made without a toll charge between the following exchanges, providing the use of direct dial: North Fork NV..-. Tuscarora. NV Three Creek ID"-' Jarbidge, NV Dial One Metro Customers may make unlimited calls from the Red Rock/Antelope Valley exchanges to Reno for an additional five dollars ($5.00) per month. Those prefixes include: 201 202 219 221 223 224 225 229 232 233 236 240 247 250 260 284 287303 313 321 322 323 324 325 326. 327, 328, 329, 331, 332 333. 334, 335, 336 337, 338, 342, 343, 345, 348. 351 , 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357 358 359 376 378379 412 418 424 425 448 473 499 527, 530, 544 560 562 624 626 636 673674 677 685 686 688 689 722 741 742, 745, 746, 747, 750 762 770 771 772780 784 785 786 787 788 789 793 813, 815, 823, 824, 825 826 827 828 829830 834 842 843.846,848,849 850 851,852, 853, 856, 857 858, 861 , 862. 954 971 . 972, 982, 993, 996, 997, 999 Boise (321 322 323 327 331 332. 333, 334. 336. 338. 342, 343 344, 345, 348, 362, 363, 364. 367 368, 373, 375, 376, 377, 378, 381 383, 384, 385, 386. 387. 388, 389 393, 395, 396, 422, 424, 426. 433 562. 658, 672, 685, 853, 854. 938 939) What Should I know First? How do I order new phone service or change/stop my current service? If you have just moved into a new home or established a new business, we will be happy to connect your phone service. Wecan also make any needed changes to your current service.Please call our office for business or residential, toll free at (888) 366-7821. Long Distance If there are any errors on the long distance portion of your bill, the business must be notified within 30 days of the billed date. Credit will only be given for toll calls on the current month's billing. How Am I Billed? The monthly charge for your local telephone service is billed one month in advance. Long distance charges are from the previous month. Installation or maintenance charges are billed in the month following the completion of the work. When paying by mail please enclose the bill stub with your check and write your account number on the memo line of your check. When paying for multiple accounts please indicate how payments are to be applied to each account. Failing to do so could result in misapplied funds or your payment could be returned for additional information. Subscriber will be held responsible for all toll calls originating from their telephone, whether made by themselves, their employees or guests. Unless the business office is notified about a transfer of responsibility or disconnection of service, the party who originally applied for service will remain legally responsible even though another party may occupy the premise and pay the bill. Customer Information Nevada Do-Not-Call Information Nevada now has a telecommunications solicitation law, popularly known as "Do Not Call"This law gives you an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls you receive by allowing you to place your phone number on the "Do Not Call" registry. This Nevada law is in addition to a similar federal law that went into effect October 2003. Nevada consumers are still protected by the federal law. However now, Nevada s "Do Not Call" law protects consumers, as well. . ! How to Register If you registered your Nevada phone number on the national "Do Not Call" registry, you are already registered for Nevada s "Do Not Call" registry. If you haven t registered your Nevada number yet and would like , you may register for both laws for free at the national "Do Not Call" registry website www.donotcall.aov. If you prefer, you may also register by calling toll free (888) 382-1222. How to File a Complaint If your Nevada number has been registered on the national "Do Not Call" registry for at least 3 months, you may file a complaint if you received a call from a non-exempt telemarketer. To file a complaint, visit the national Do Not Call" registry website at www.donotcall.aov and select the "File A Complaint" button. If you prefer, you may also file a complaint by calling toll free (888) 382-1222. In filing a complaint, you need to provide either the telemarketer's name or phone number, the date the telemarketer called and your registered phone number. In certain cases, even though your number is already registered, non- exempt telemarketers may continue to call you. For instance, companies you have done business with in the past 18 months may continue to call you, as well as, telephone surveyors and charitable, religious or political organizations. Visit our Consumer Frequently Asked Questions for "Will these laws stop all telemarketing calls?" to learn more about these exceptions. You may read the Nevada "Do Not Call" law by visiting the Nevada Legislature website at http://www.lea.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-228.html (NRS 228.500 to 228.650). CUSTOMER I NFORMA TION cont... TIPS ON CONTROLLING YOUR SPENDING Be a Smart Telecommunications Consumer There are a lot of people you want to keep in touch with. After all communicating with other and building close relationships - that's what life is about. Although many people pick up the phone with the best intentions, before they know it, their telecommunications bills are out of . hand. At Rural, we care about our customers. That's why we are offering you these insider tips to help you stay in control of your telecommunication spending. This will help you stay in line with your budget, while staying connected with the ones you love. Buy a Pre-Paid Calling Card Determine how much you want to spend each month in long-distance calls. Buy a pre-paid calling card of that value. Then each time you make a long-distance call use the calling card. This way you will know when the time and the money you allotted for long-distance calls is depleted. This will help you stay within your budget. Keep A Calling Log Place a small notebook next to your telephone. Every time you make a long-distance call write down the date, time and length of call. After doing this for a month you will have an accurate log of your calling patterns. Now, use this information to select a long-distance calling plan that is best for you. For instance, if you make most of your calls during the day, it would probably not benefit you to have a plan that offers great rates at night. Check Your Directory for Telephone Numbers First Before calling directory assistance, check your directory for the number first. Those directory assistance fees can add up and often it only takes a few seconds longer to look up a number in the directory. If you don have a telephone directory, call your local telephone office to receive a copy. Use 1-800 Numbers When Possible Before placing a long-distance call to a company, always call 1-800-555- 1212 to see if they have a toll free number. Give the full company name and the state they are located in , often you will get a toll free number. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... Time Your Calls Keep a timer next to your phone. This way you can preset for the amount of time and money you want to spend on the phone call. When the time is up, end the conversation. Make Your Long-Distance Call at Off Peak Times Most long-distance companies have peak rates that are much higher than off-peak rates. The peak rates are often during times you would think to make a long-distance call. Consciously choosing to call during off-peak times, for much lower per-minute costs can save you a lot of money, possibly allowing you to talk a little longer. Remember 900 Number Calls are Pricey When at all possible, it is best not to even dial 1-900 numbers. Calls to these numbers are often astronomically priced (.25~ to $25 per minute). Know the rate you are being charged and then keep track of the time you spend on the call. If you don , you ll find your telecommunications spending getting out of control fast! To ensure that 900 numbers are not dialed from your telephone, we suggest signing up for 900 number blocking. By following these simple suggestions you will stay connected , without sacrificing the great feeling that comes with knowing that you re in control of your spending and staying within your budget. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... What is Slamming? Slamming is a term used to describe the changing of a customer's long distance carrier without customer authorization. Ways to protect yourself from being .slammed" 1. Sign a Pic Freeze form with Rural Telephone Company2. If you DO NOT want to change your current long distance carrier simply tell the telephone solicitor , " m not interested" "Do not call me again" and hang up! DO NOT give them any information, especially your birth date or Social Security number. DO NOT verify your telephone number, name or address. This information may be used to switch your long distance carrier. 3. Send a certified letter to the following address, requesting they remove your name and number from their list: Direct Marketing Association, Telephone Preference Service, PO Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. How Can I Tell If I Have Been Slammed? --J Review your telephone bill carefully each month. Look for unfamiliar company names or logos. "Watch for notices from Rural Telephone Company indicating there was a change made on your account. What Should I Do If I Have Been Slammed? Immediately call Rural Telephone Company and your authorized carrier and ask to be switched back. DO NOT pay the charges from the unauthorized carrier. The new FCC rules absolve the customer from paying the unauthorized charges from the first 30 days after the unauthorized change. You may file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on your state s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) or by logging to the FCC website at www.fcc.aov/siammina PIC Freeze (Preferred Carrier PIC Freeze) What does a PIC Freeze do? A PIC Freeze prevents a change in a customer's long-distance carrier selection unless the customer authorized the change. How can I authorize a PIC Freeze? Contact Rural Telephone Company and request a PIC Freeze form. PIC Freeze may be established with written authorization only. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... EQUAL ACCESS Equal Access is a service, which allows a customer to select a "preferred" long-distance company for handling 1 + direct-dialed calls. Why are long-distance companies calling me? Equal Access is a service, which resulted from a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order stating that all long-distance companies would have an equal opportunity to compete for long-distance business, thus long-distance companies are calling to inform you of their services. Who is my long-distance carrier? To verify your long-distance carrier for your present location , you may dial 700-555-4141 (free call). You will then hear a recording telling you the name of the company you selected for your INTER-LATA and INTER- STATE calls. Please keep in mind there are long distance companies the process of merging and this may have an effect on the way your call is answered by the switchboard. What are the rates for my carrier? Each long distance company has different rates and offers different services. To find out about the rates or services for your primary long- distance carrier, or any other carrier, please contact the carrier directly, LONG DISTANCE BLOCKING Direct Dialed Block (1+) This restriction blocks the ability to dial "1 +" to place long distance calls. You will still be able to dial: locally, the operator, toll free numbers and 911" calls. Complete Toll Block (1+ and 0+) This restriction blocks the ability to dial "1 +" and "0+) to place long distance calls and operator assisted calls. You will still be able to dial locally, toll free numbers and 911 calls. A charge will apply. 900 Block This restriction blocks the ability to dial "900+" numbers. Free service. 3rd Party Block This restriction blocks your telephone from billing for third party calls. A third party call is when a call is charged to your home phone number from a different location. Free Service. Collect Block This restriction blocks your telephone number from receiving collect calls. Free service. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... Navigating Your Phone Bill Basic Service: monthly charge for dial tone service. Optional Services: charges for added services such as call waiting, caller 10, voice mail, 3-way calling, etc. Long Distance: charges from your selected carrier. Some long distance companies may add "carrier" or charges. Contact your long distance provider for an explanation. State & Federal Surcharges: The number and types of surcharges and taxes that appear on telephone bills. The names of these fees vary from state to state. Subscriber Line Charae (SCL): is charge created and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that allows local phone companies to recover portion of the costs associated with interstate access to the local phone network. May appear as FCC Charge for Network Access" or "Federal Line Cost Charge State Subscriber Une Charae is mandated by some state public seNice or utility commissions to compensate the local phone company for the portion of the cost of providing local telephone lines determined to associated with state seNices, such as intrastate long distance seNices and local exchange seNices. Universal Service Fund Surcharae (USF): The USF is federal program helping to bring affordable basic phone seNice to all Americans. The program assists schools, libraries and rural health care providers in obtaining phone service. Some long distance companies add USF charge to cover their support requirements for this program. Taxes: Several taxes are collected through phone bills on behalf of the government. Taxes that typically appear on a local phone bill include: Federal Excise Tax:a 3% tax mandated by the federal government. It is levied on all telecommunications services. State Local Municioal Tax:Is charge levied by state, local or municipal governments on goods and services. It may also be "gross receipts" tax. 911: is a charge levied by local governments to help pay for emergency seNices such as fire and rescue. In many areas, the seNices include the ability to get street address for callers through the phone lines. Telecommunications Relay Service Charae:this surcharge funds the relay center; which transmits and translates calls for hearing and speech Impaired persons. Lifeline Surcharae:fee assessed by federal regulators on local telephone customers to assist low-income telephone customers. Some state regulators also assess fee for this purpose. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... TELEPHONE SAFETY There are three telephone safety rules you should keep in mind at all times - even when using cordless and cellular phones: 1. Do Not Use the Phone Near Water. For example, it is unsafe to use the telephone while you are bathing, washing dishes or in a swimming pool. Contact with water could cause electrical shock. 2. Do Not Use Your Telephone to Report a Gas Leak. Telephones contain electrical contacts that could generate a tiny spark when you lift the handset. While unlikely, this spark could trigger an explosion if gas is present. 3. Avoid Using the Telephone During an Electrical Storm. Although Rural Telephone Company uses protective measures to limit abnormal electrical surges from entering your home absolute protection is impossible. There is a remote risk that you could receive a dangerous electrical shock from lightning while using the telephone during an electrical. Your telephone equipment can be protected against a voltage surge just as electrical equipment is protected from power surges. Rural Telephone Company provides ortmarv over-voltage protection. However, secondary over-voltage protection, which protects against damage to equipment such as modems and answering machines, is your responsibility. For more information about voltage surge protection, contact Rural Telephone Company. CALL BEFORE YOU DIG You playa crucial role in helping us protect underground cable. Before digging or excavating remember to call and schedule for us to locate your cable. This service is free and could save you costly repairs and time. ID Customers (800) 342-1585 NV Customers (888) 366-7821 Have the following information handy when you call: 1) exact physical location, 2) county, city, township, section and % section number, 3) type of work you will be doing, 4) name (company if applicable), 5) address, 6) phone number where you may be reached, and 7) Best time to return your call. Rural Telephone will respond to your cable locating request within 48 hours. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... Annoying, Obscene and Threatening Calls If you receive an annoying, obscene or threatening call , hang up immediately. If the calls persist, inform your telephone Company. Threatening calls should be reported immediately to the police. Can phone calls be recorded? It is illegal to record a telephone conversation without the consent of both parties prior to the recording of the conversation. Prior consent must be obtained in writing or be recorded as part of the conversation at the start of the recording. When you hear a "beep" tone A short "beep" tone heard on your telephone line about every 15 seconds means that the person with whom you re speaking is recording your conversation. The Telephone Company requires this for your protection. Use of a recorder without recorder-connector equipment containing a tone- warning devise is contrary to the company's tariffs and is not permitted. If you do not want a record made of what you are saying, ask the person with whom you are talking to disconnect the recording machine. When it is disconnected, you will no longer hear the "beep" tone. WARNINGS! It is unlawful for a person to refuse to immediately relinquish a party line when informed that the line is needed for an emergency call. It is also unlawful for a person not to relinquish a public telephone immediately when informed that the phone is needed for an emergency and there is no other reasonably apparent and accessible telephone from which to make the emergency call. If You Receive Unwanted Sales Calls 1. Hang up if you are not interested in talking to the caller. 2. Computer generated sales calls may be disconnected by hanging up within 12-15 seconds. 3. Do not give your credit card number to anyone who calls and asks for it.4. Idaho/Nevada state law provides that residential subscribers have the right to prevent telephone solicitors from calling back. Solicitors are required to identify themselves, their company/organization, and the purpose of the call within 30 seconds. You may request not to be called again or to have your name removed from their calling list. The State Attorney General's office can provide you with further information regarding your rights to file a complaint. 5. To remove your name from telephone solicitation lists, write to: Direct Marketing Association, Inc. Telephone Preference Services PO Box 9014 Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014 CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... 900 & 976 Numbers Telephone numbers beginning with either "900" or "976" are designed on a "cost per call" basis. Examples of these types of numbers are, road reports, dial-a- joke, horoscopes, stock market reports or ski conditions etc. You will be charged for these calls at the rate established by information provider. Rural Telephone Company may bill you on behalf of the provider for these charges. If you don t want anyone in your home making "900" or "976" calls, call Rural Telephone Company and request a "900" "976" block. There is no charge for this service, however, if you cancel the blocking service and then request to have it reinstated, you may be charged. Customer Billing Rights for "900" & "976" Calls Rural Telephone Company provides billing services for long-distance companies and companies offering 900 and 976 number information services. The Federal Telephone Disclosure Act gives you the following rights regarding these calls and telephone billed purchases: . You do not have to pay for calls to 900/976 numbers that do not follow Federal regulations. . You have the right to question charges for Rural Telephone Company billed telephone purchases or calls to 900/976 number information service providers. This process begins when you call or write Rural Telephone Company or your long-distance carrier, using the telephone numbers listed on your long-distance bill page, within 60 days of receiving the statement showing the charges in question. . Should you question charges on your telephone bill, Rural Telephone Company or your long-distance carrier must respond to your request within 40 days unless the dispute is resolved within that time. If a billing error occurs, Rural Telephone Company or your long-distance carrier must correct the error and notify you of the correction, Your account will be credited for the disputed amount pending investigation. The company providing the service, however, may attempt to collect the disputed amount even in cases where a billing error has occurred. If there is no billing error, Rural Telephone Company or your long distance carrier will provide you a written explanation of why no error was found and, upon request, provide you with documentation of why you were billed for the charges in question. You have a minimum of ten days to pay the disputed amount. Failure to pay such amount may be reported to a credit-reporting agency or subject to collection. Involuntary blocking may also be imposed so that you will be unable to place 900/976 calls. Neither your long-distance nor your local telephone service may be disconnected if you choose to withhold payment for telephone-billed purchases or calls to 900/976 numbers. If Rural Telephone Company or your long-distance carrier fails to follow the billing and collection procedures mandated by federal regulations, any disputed amount up to $50 may be forfeited to the customer. Please call Rural Telephone Company or your long-distance carrier for questions regarding 900/976 numbers listed on your bill. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... What to Know About Telephone Solicitors A telephone solicitor is anyone who calls and requests that you purchase something or make a donation. State and Federal laws require that telephone solicitors calling residential customers must identify themselves and the business they represent by identifying the purpose of the call and providing a telephone number where the solicitor or the company can be reached. Additionally, a telephone solicitor can t legally call a residence before 8 a.m. or after 9 p. Keep in mind that these requirements do not apply to telephone solicitations made at your request, solicitations made in connection with an existing debt or contract or call from a telephone solicitor with whom you have a prior or existing business relationship. Other Laws and Practices Governing Telephone Service Throughout the Customer Information pages we have told you about many of the rules and regulations that govern telephone service. Here are some other important things you should know Rural Telephone Company provides telephone service without regard to race, nationality, color, religion, sex, marital status or disabilities. Rural telephone Company is regulated by the Idaho & Nevada Utility Commissions. A complete copy of the rules and regulations governing telephone service is available at the Idaho & Nevada Public Utilities state office and Rural Telephone Company. The rates and practices for telephone service now in effect are subject to change. A schedule of current rates is available at the Idaho & Nevada Public Utilities state office and Rural Telephone Company. All telephone numbers are owned by your local telephone company, which has the right to change any numbers as may be required. No automatic dialing announcing device may be connected to Rural Telephone Company network unless it complies with Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules. Auto-dialers used to transmit artificial or pre- recorded voice messages should automatically release the called party's line within 5 seconds of that party's hang-up signal reaching the caller's dialing system. For additional information contact Rural Telephone Company toll free at (800) 366-7821. For your protection, Rural Telephone Company is able to detect fraudulent calls. State and Federal law prohibit defrauding or attempting to defraud a telephone company of its rightful charges. 05/i~/2006 15: 16 FAX 141002 CUSTOMER INFORMATION cont... Your Privacy is Important! We make every effort to protect your telecommunications services from unlawful wire-tapping or other illegal interceptions. Customer service records, credit information and related confidential personal account information are fully protected. Therefore, only the customers listed on the account are able to inquire. add. change or terminate services on the account. 911 Emergency Information When you call emergency 911 , your phone number is either displayed at the answering center or your call may be traced. this enables emergency teams to locate you even If the call gets interrupted before you are able to give your location. If you want to keep your number private, call the seven-digit number listed for your locality s pollee or sheriff's department located at the front of this directory. WIRING RESPONSIBILmES Outside Wiring Rural Telephone Company maintains outside phone lines as part of your basic monthly service. Outside lines will be repaired at no cost to the customer. . Inside Wiring Generally, telephone wiring inside your home are yours to maintain and repair. For worry-free inside line maintenance, Rural Telephone Company offers an optional Wire Maintenance Service, at a low monthly fee. If you subscribe to the Wire Maintenance Service, Rural Telephone Company will repair your inside wiring at no additional charge. For your protection, Rural Telephone employees carry official employee company ID cards. This card includes the employee s name and photograph. We suggest you ask to see this card before allowing any repair- person to enter your home. Questions: call toll free (888) 366-7821. CUSTOMER INFORMATION cant... DENIAL, RESTRICTION & TERMINATION OF SERVICE The Company must notify the customer prior to tennination or restriction of services. The Company may make payment arrangements for outstanding balances. A customer failing to pay undisputed charges may lose 0+, 0- and 1 + services. Telephone Service Termination Postponement Due to Medical Emergency Situation If a medical emergency exists in your household, the shut off will be postponed for 30 days, provided that your doctor or local board of health notifies Rural Telephone Company. If this certification is done by telephone, it must be confinned in writing within five business days. It may be renewed if the inability to pay is disclosed on the certification fonn. Physician Health Care Provider must certify that a postponement of telephone service tennination is requested due to an emergency medical situation. r-- r-- r-- r-- r-- r--r- r--r-- r--r--r--r-- r- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1-- 1--1........: "L-.: tL_tL....: "L-.: "L-.: '1.; MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION REGARDING PAY TELEPHONES Pay Telephones Pay telephones must use instruments that comply with federal requirements. Pay telephones must ring when calls are placed to them unless waived by the PUC, must accurately transmit dialed numbers of calls using 950, 800 and 1010 xxx numbers, and have a keypad or dial that remains engaged during the call. Pay telephones must allow coin-free and emergency 911 access, ensure privacy, be well-lit and properly labeled. Reporting Troubles Please report trouble with phone line as soon as you detect a problem. This will help ensure your service is restored without any unnecessarydelay. -Thank you What if my phone isn t working? For Residential or Business repair service or outages, please call toll-free (888) 366-7821 or e-mail www.rtci.net ; including weekends and holidays. For system-wide outages please follow the instructions as prompted by the voice mail message. Note Before calling, please read the following information. This will help you and the Rural Telephone Company representative identify the problem. Troubleshooting OUTSIDE Wiring No dial tone on all phones . Can t call in or out on all phones Get cut off when talking on all phones Noise or static on all phones Troubleshooting INSIDE Wiring . A phone works in one jack, but not in another Loose or broken phone jack Dial tone at the protector box, but not inside Troubleshooting Telephone Stuck push buttons Worn Cords Broken clips or plugs Stuck receiver buttons When you have a service problem, we will do our best to quickly locate and clear up the trouble. Depending on the source of the problem, the following guidelines apply: Problems with your telephone service may be caused by our lines or switching equipment or there may be something wrong with one of more of your telephones. The source of the problem makes an important difference. If the trouble is in our line or switching equipment, we will take quick action to correct the problem and there is no charge. If you determine that the source of the problem is the telephone you own then you should follow the instructions on the warranty. There is a maintenance service charge when a repair-person is sent to your home or office at your request and the trouble is due to inside wiring, jacks or your own telephone equipment. The charge covers repair, wiring service and travel cost. We are not responsible for inside wiring. We will fIX an inside wiring problem at your request, however you will be charged for this service. Special Services 'D ief Y ou know... Telephone Assistance Programs are available to low-income individuals. To qualify for Lifeline/Link Up Services contact vour local Health We~fare Office. Li feline/Link-Up Services are programs designed to assist low income households afford local telephone service. Lifeline assists with monthly telephone bills. Link-Up assists with connection and installation charges. Please contact your local Health & Welfare Office to see if you quality for Lifeline/Link-up Services or call Rural Telephone Company Toll Free (888) 366-7821 SERVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED. Nevada Relay NEVADA Relay Nevada is a statewide service for people who are hearing or speech impaired. This service is available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, with no restriction on length or number of calls placed. Specially trained relay agents complete all calls and stay on-line to relay messages fro TTY users to voice phone users. Voice Carry Over and Hearing Carry Over services are also available. All calls are through Relay Nevada are held in strict confidentially. Calls may be made to or from anywhere in the United States. Reaching Relay Nevada (Nevada Customers Only) TTY/ASCII 711 or 1-800-326-6868Voice 711 or 1-800-326-6888VCO or HCO 711 or 1-800-326-6868 Spanish Relay 711'" or 1-800-877-1219 Speech to Speech 711'" or 1-800-326-5658900 Service 1-900-230-2300 Dialing the "800" number is recommended. You may dial 711, however, the call may be transferred to an appropriate agent to handle. The service also includes optional billing to a third party, as well as, collect and calling card calls. Toll charges to the user are less than or equal to the standard voice rates. For customer service inquiries or to make comments about Relay Nevada, call 1-800-676-3777 TTYNoice. Additional information is available at www.relavnevada.com This service is made possible through a surcharge on all Nevada telephone customers' monthly phone bills. International calling is also provided on Relay Nevada. International Relay calls, to the United States from another country, may be made by dialing 605-0224-1837. Equipment Distribution Program Tele-Typewriter (TTY), Tele-Braille and telephone signalers are available at no charge to qualified hearing, speech, or sight impaired individuals. Southern NV residents contact the Nevada Association for the Handicapped 2810 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite H-79, Las Vegas, NV 89102 or call TTY: (702) 649-9177 or Voice: (702) 649-7085. E-mail: randittvtenaol.com Northern NV residents contact the N. Nevada Center for Independent Living, 999 Pyramid Way, Sparks, NV 89431 or call TTYNoice (775) 353-3599. E-mail: mrfrad.nncilteniuno.com Emergency Number for the TTY User Ambulance - Fire - Police 9- SERVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED - Idaho Idaho Relay Hamilton Relay provides traditional relay services for the state of Idaho including TTY, Voice Carry Over (VCO), Hearing Carry Over (HCO), Speech-ta-Speech and Spanish-to-Spanish. When you connect with Idaho Relay, a Communication Assistant (CA) will connect on the phone with you. Simply give the CA the number you wish to call and your call will be processed promptly, professionally and accurately. What is Relay? Telecommunications Relay Service Providing equal communication access on the telephone. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is a free, 24-hour service that allows people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind or Speech Disabled to communicate via the telephone. Through the use of specialized equipment, relay users can communicate freely with hearing friends, family and businesses-or with other relay users. How to Connect To use Hamilton Relay in Idaho , simply dial 7- Or call one of the toll free numbers below: TTY/ASCII 1.800.377.3529 Voice: 1.800.377.1363 . Speech-to-Speech: 1.888.791.3004 . Spanish-to-Spanish: 1.866.252.0684 If you have suggestions, comments or concerns, please contact: Hamilton Relay O. Box 285 Aurora , NE 68818 VoicelTTY: 1.800.368.6185 Fax: 402.694.5110 E-mail: relav~hamiltonrelav.com DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE Dial 4.1 for anv number, anvwhere in the United States and aet connected* Now you can use 4-1 for all your directory assistance needs. 4-1 is the quick and easy way to get: Local Numbers National Numbers . " 800" Numbers 1 is your number for Directory Assistance! 411 is now the only number you need to know for assistance in getting any phone number you need in the United States. You can begin using this service immediately. . No sign up fee . No registration fee . No monthly fee . No commitment Optional Call Connect* Start using 4-1 Today! Toll charges may apply to calls connected outside your service area. Local call completion may not be available in all areas. Two requests per call to Directory Assistance. Each directory assisted call costs $0. ADVANCED SERVICES Note:Not all services are available in all areas. Please call toll free (888) 366-7821 for information about services in your area. Equal Access of Long-Distance Carriers: Allowing you to choose the long-distance carrier that meets your needs. GET ON-LINE! DSL (Digital Subscriber Line): DSL will completely revolutionize the way you use the Internet. DSL brings high-speed service to your home or business. DSL makes your connection to the Internet faster than you ever thought possible. DSL is fast, always connected and with Rural Telephone you have the added convenience of local, one bill service. With transfer rates up to 25 times faster than dial up, DSL makes access to any site on the Internet almost immediate. Call today to find out more about high-speed DSL Internet access toll free at (888) 366-7821. RTCl.net The Internet is a collection of computer networks all over the world. People use the Internet either to get information or share information with others. No one owns the Internet - companies, governments, and schools pay their own costs to stay connected to each other. These connections form the Internet. What do I need to get on-line? Computer Modem Dialer software that your PC uses to communicate with the modem . Web Browser software which allows you to surf the web and send E-mail Account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Why do I need an Internet Service Provider (lSP)? Everyone who wants to get on the Internet needs an account with an Internet Service provider. Internet service providers (ISP's) are companies that own networks connected to the Internet. An ISP allows customers to dial in to their network and connect to the Internet. Rural Telephone Company is an ISP. To sign up for Internet service call toll free (888) 366-7821. CUSTOM CALLING FEATURE BASIC TERMS Please note: Not all services are available in all areas. Please call toll free (888) 366-7821 for information on services available in your area. STAR * and POUND # KEYS When using some of your calling features you may be instructed to press either the "star II or "pound" II These keys are located to the left and right of the .0" on the touch pad. HOOKSWITCH The button that disconnects the call when you hang up the phone is called the hookswitch. When instruction read .press and release the hookswitch" hold the hookswitch down for only a second (about the time it takes to say "one thousand and one . If your phone has a "flash" button, you can use it instead of the hookswitch. PULSEfTONE SWITCH Some touch call telephones have a switch that allows the phone to be used with either Touch Call or Rotary Service. Place the switch on "tone Many of the services provide recorded instructions that guide you through using the services. You may interrupt the voice recording at any time by entering the required code or telephone number. If you are using a rotary phone you will need to: Dial "1" instead of pressing " * " . Wait for four seconds instead of pressing " # " . For example, if the instructions read "press *70", dial ". When the instructions read press 7 -O-#" dial "0" and wait 4 seconds. (.......!". , \\"""0;;, USING SPECIAL FEATURES Rural Telephone Company offers many services that make your telephone work better for you. Below is information to help get you acquainted with the special services and features. Anonymous Call Rejection- Intercepts unknown or blocked automatically stores and redials the last number you dial. If the number is busy, this feature will monitor to see if the number you called is still busy and ring you back when the number is no longer in use. Press '77 to activate Press *87 to deactivate Automatic Busy Redial- Automatically stores and redials the last number dialed. If the number is busy, this feature will monitor to see if the number called is still busy and will ring you back when the number is no longer in use. Automatic Call Return- Allows you to hear the number of the last incoming call. Press *69 to activate Press *89 to deactivate Call Block- Rejects specific phone numbers as you request. Press *60 and follow instructions Call Forwarding- Allows you to fotWard incoming calls to another number. Press 72# and wait for dial tone, then dial the number where you want your calls forwarded. Press 73# to cancel call forwarding. Call Waiting- Alerts for incoming calls while you are on the line. Depress the hook-switch to place the original caller "on hold" and connect with the new caller. By pressing the hook-switch again you will return to your original call. Call Number ID- Displays the phone number of an incoming call. Caller ID- Displays the name and phone number of an incoming call. Speed Dialing- Speed Dialing connects you in an instant by letting you dial one digit instead of seven or 10 numbers. Teen Line- Incoming calls from specified numbers will have distinctive ring pattern sound for the teen. All other calls will have the standard ring sound. Three-Way Calling- Allows you to have third party on the line. Place existing call on hold by depressing the hook-switch for about one second. Then dial third party's phone number. Depress the hook-switch again for about one second to add the first caller back in. Privacy Call- Dial 67 so your number won t display on the Caller 10 of the person you are calling. It further prevents auto call back to you. Call Toll Free (888) 366-7821 To Request Additional Services Long Distance Calling Station-to-Station Calls To dial your own 'station-ta-station' call by dialing: 1 + Area Code + seven digit number station-to-station call is charged to the number from which you are calling and is the least expensive rate. Charges apply even when connection is made to an automatic answering machine. All Other Calls You may call 'person-to-person , collect, credit card , bill to another number or special billing calls. To dial one of the calls listed above dial: 0 + Area Code + seven digit number An operator will assist you. Inform the operator of the type of call you wish to make and you will receive assistance in completing the call. Person-to-Person calls are when you want to talk only to a particular person or telephone extension. Tell the operator that you want to make person-to-person call. Don t forget, rates for these calls are higher than station-to-station. Collect calls are when you inform the operator that you are placing collect call. When the call is accepted, the party receiving the call is agreeing to pay the charges for the collect call. Please note: Operator assisted calls are more expensive than 'station- to-station' calls. Long Distance Calling Calls Charged to: Another Telephone Number Telephone Calling/Credit Card Credit Card You are not charged if: You hang up before you dial the complete number The called party does not answer You reach a wrong number and report it to the operator immediately. Money Saving Tips! Operator calls are the most expensive type of call. These types of calls can cost as much as 1 % times that of a direct dial call. Look up the telephone number yourself, if possible. Directory Assistance charges are currently between $0.25 up to $1.25 per request and sometimes even more! Try to schedule frequently dialed long distance calls within these low- rate periods and be sure to "Dial Direct" to get the lowest possible rates. INTERNATIONAL CALLING 1. International Access Code - 011 2. Country Code 3. City Code 4. Local Telephone Number Station-to-Station Calls To dial international calls, dial the following in sequence: For example, to place a call to Frankfurt, Germany you would dial the following: International Access Code Country Code City/Routing Code Local Number 011 611 Local Number After dialing any international call, allow at least 45 seconds for the ring to start To Place a Call to: Bahamas Bermuda Canada Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Calls to these points may be dialed in the same manner as long distance calls within the United States. Simply dial" 1 " plus the appropriate Area Code and the local number. International rates apply. Mexico Most locations to Mexico may be reached by using the international dialing (011+) instructions. International rates apply. BASIC INTERNET TERMS /4'~I.....' ...... ."~I,...:.r.,~flP INTERNET SERVICE Dial up: Refers to connecting device to network via modem and public telephone network Dial-up access is really just like phone connection, except that the parties at the two ends are computer devices rather than people. Dial up Accelerator: Feature that speeds up data transfer by using special seNer, called an acceleration seNer, to act as a bridge between the user's dialup connection and Web page. The acceleration seNer uses fast broadband connection to request the Web page on behalf of the dial-up user. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is technology for bringing high-bandwidth information to homes and small businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. Wireless: Wireless is term used to describe telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or all of the communication path. Wild Blue Satellite Service: WildBlue offers you high-speed Internet access via satellite to almost every corner of the u.S.! Imagine "always , lightning fast connections to the Internet. No more dialing in. No more delays. No more wondering if high-speed Internet will arrive in your town. ,~"n "'-___~----'-'----""'" ---_.