(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘Call aggregator’ means a person who furnishes a telephone for use by the public, including but not limited to hotels, hospitals, colleges, airports, public pay station owners and pay station agents.

(b) ‘Contract’ means an agreement between an operator service provider and a call aggregator to automatically connect users of telephones to the operator service provider when certain operator-assisted long distance calls are made.

(c) ‘Operator service’ includes but is not limited to billing or completion of third-number, person-to-person, collect or credit card calls.

(d) ‘Operator service provider’ means a person who furnishes operator service under contract with a call aggregator.

(2) Each operator service provider shall:

(a) Notify all callers at the beginning of the call of the provider’s name.

(b) Disclose rate and service information to the caller when requested.

(c) Maintain a current list of emergency numbers for each service territory it serves.

(d) Transfer an emergency call to the appropriate emergency number when requested.

(e) Transfer a call to, or instruct the caller how to reach, the originating local exchange company’s operator service upon request of the caller, free of charge.

(f) Not transfer a call to another operator service provider without the caller’s notification and consent.

(g) Not bill or collect for calls not completed to the caller’s destination. Where technical limitations of the network prevent the identification of incomplete calls, each operator service provider shall issue credits for such calls upon the request of the caller.

(3) Each call aggregator who has a contract with an operator service provider shall post in the immediate vicinity of each telephone available to the public the name of the operator service provider, a toll-free customer service number, a statement that rate quotes are available upon request and instructions on how the caller may access other operator service providers.

(4) Neither the operator service provider nor the call aggregator shall block or prevent a telephone user’s access to the user’s operator service provider of choice. In order to prevent fraudulent use of its services, an operator service provider or a call aggregator may block access if the provider obtains a waiver for such purpose from the Public Utility Commission.

(5) The provisions of this section shall be carried out in such manner as the commission, by rule, may prescribe. [Formerly 759.690]

RESIDENTIAL SERVICE PROTECTION FUND

(Generally)