
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 16, 1993                   TAG: 9307160031
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

FCC: CONSUMERS MUST BE ALLOWED TO BLOCK 900 CALLS

Consumers who don't want calls made from their telephones to 900 numbers must be given a block on their lines by the phone company, the Federal Communications Commission ruled Thursday.

Furthermore, the phone company must list the charges for pay-per-call services separately on customer bills and can't disconnect phone service to customers who refuse to pay them.

The 900 numbers are the ones used to sell everything from sports scores to Santa chats to sex talk.

Some charitable organizations also use them as a quick way to gather donations.

The FCC has had rules governing pay-per-call numbers for some time. The new regulations replace all others. They enforce the FCC section of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act passed by Congress last October.

In its new rules, the FCC also ordered that:

No prefix other than 900 be used if the call fits the pay-per-call category.

Phone companies and 900-number services be allowed to block customer access to them if customers refuse to pay legitimate pay-per-call charges.

Phone companies provide toll-free pay-per-call information lines.

Customers be sent pay-per-call disclosure statements annually.

Phone companies obtain proof that charitable organizations using a 900 number are tax exempt.

Customers who want 900 numbers blocked from existing lines must inform the phone company 60 days after the rules are published in the Federal Register.

Anyone getting a new phone number has 60 days from the time their phone service starts to ask for the lockout.

Much of the new law falls under jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission, which has until July 26 to announce its final rules about what consumers must be told by sellers who use 900 numbers.

In the meantime, the FTC has published a brochure reminding consumers not to confuse 900 numbers with the 800 toll-free variety and to think twice about "free" gifts available by making a 900 call for which they'll be charged.

Under the rules the FTC is finalizing, advertising for 900 services would have to carry specific consumer information. For example, print, radio and television ads would have to give:

The flat fee or cost per minute of the call with a statement that the length of the call is controlled by the consumer.

The range of rates that may exist if several services are available from the same number.

The cost of any other pay-per-call service to which the caller may be transferred.

In TV commercials, the cost of the call would have to stay on the screen as long as the 900 number is displayed and be in the same size type.

When a call is made, the 900 service must start with an explanation of the charges followed by a tone that lets the caller know the paid service is beginning.

Services selling sweepstakes chances would have to disclose the odds of winning or the way odds are calculated.

Any private 900-number service offering information on federal programs would have to say up front that it's not part of the government.

by CNB