Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 515 - RULES OF GEORGIA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION › Chapter 515-12 - TELEPHONE SERVICE › Subject 515-12-1 - TELEPHONE SERVICE › Rule 515-12-1-.31 - Payphone Service Providers (PSPs)

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
Registration:
(a) PSPs telephones must be connected to the
				network of a Company certified by the Georgia Public Service Commission
				("Commission").
(b) The caller must
				be able to access an Operator of a Company certified by the Commission to
				provide local exchange service or alternate operator service, 911 (at no
				charge) where available, and Local Directory Assistance (411) of a Company
				certified by the Commission.
(c)
				Emergency numbers (operator assistance and 911) must be clearly posted on each
				location of a PSP telephone.
(d)
				Information must be displayed on each PSP telephone consisting of an address
				and telephone numbers (Toll Free) where a caller can obtain assistance in the
				event the telephone malfunctions in any way and procedures for obtaining a
				refund from the PSP.
(e) The
				telephone number must be displayed on each PSP telephone, unless otherwise
				prohibited by the Commission.
(f)
				The PSP shall ensure that the telephone complies with regulations regarding
				impaired and handicapped access in accordance with the American Disabilities
				Act (ADA).
(g) Each PSP telephone
				shall be installed in compliance with all accepted telecommunications industry
				standards and the current National Electric Code and the National Electric
				Safety Code.
(h) The charge to a
				user of a PSP telephone for placement of a local call shall be in compliance
				with the Order of the Federal Communications Commission in Docket 96-128 and
				shall be clearly displayed on each PSP telephone.
(i) All PSP telephones in service must return
				the coins to the user in the event of an incomplete call.
(j) Any limit on the duration of any call
				(Local or Toll) made from any PSP telephone shall be in compliance with the
				Order of the Federal Communications Commission in Docket 96-128 and of this
				Commission.
(k) The rates charged
				the caller for any 1+ intraLATA/intrastate and interLATA/interstate call made
				from PSP telephones shall not exceed $2.85 for the 1st minute and $0.35 for
				each additional minute.
(l) Each
				PSP telephone must be capable of providing access to all carriers certified to
				provide long distance service in Georgia and who are in fact providing such
				service. Access to the carrier of choice must be permitted by means of the
				dialing sequence chosen by the carrier (e.g., 950-XXX, 1-800 or 10XXX). The
				dialing sequence chosen by the carrier should include the option of placing an
				0+ call without operator intervention. A dialing sequence commencing with 00-
				shall provide the caller with access to the presubscribed long distance carrier
				or operator service provider under contract to provide service to the payphone.
				As to coinless public telephones, it will be necessary for certified
				Interexchange Carriers providing public telephone service and not reselling
				local or intraLATA service to make available the service to all Interexchange
				Carriers that can be reached by means of the dialing sequence chosen by the
				carrier.
(m) The PSP must register
				with the Georgia Public Service Commission in the form and manner as prescribed
				by the Commission before connection to the network of a Company certified to
				provide local exchange service shall be allowed. Holders of Regular
				Certificates of Authority for the provision of Payphone Service, as of the date
				of adoption of these rules, shall be exempt from this provision.
(n) Public Telephone Access Lines will only
				be provided as twoway service unless authorized by the Commission as set forth
				in (2) following; and there will be no charge imposed for incoming calls.
				Coinless Public Telephones do not have to receive incoming calls if the agent
				of the premises upon which such telephones are installed does not wish such
				calls to be received.
(o) All PSP
				telephones must be capable of completing local and toll calls.
(p) Payphone Service Providers may provision
				Payphone Service through the use of access lines, broadband, voice over
				Internet protocol ("VoIP"), or any other technically feasible means.
(q) All PSPs shall place on the telephone
				instrument, a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the presubscribed provider of
				operator and long distance services and the method by which the user may obtain
				the rates thereof.
(r) Operator
				services provided by a company certified by the Commission to provide local
				exchange service or local alternate operator services shall be accessed by
				dialing "O" from each PSP telephone.
(s) All PSPs shall provide to the Commission
				a list of all payphone access lines maintained in the State of Georgia. This
				list shall state the location and telephone number of each payphone maintained
				by the PSP within the State of Georgia. Such information may be filed under the
				Trade Secret provisions of this Commission. The first such list is due thirty
				(30) days from the date the Commission approves the PSP's registration.
				Thereafter, the list shall be updated annually with such update being due on or
				after January 31 of each year. All PSP's shall also be required to state under
				oath the total number of payphones currently deployed within the State of
				Georgia. Such information shall not be filed under the Trade Secret provisions
				of this Commission. This total shall be updated annually with such update being
				due on or before January 31 of each year.
(t) Each PSP in Georgia must provide such
				service in compliance with these Rules and any and all registration
				requirements of this Commission for the provision of PSP telephones in Georgia.
				In the event a PSP is found to be in violation of any Rule, Regulation, or
				registration requirement of the Commission, the Commission Staff will issue
				notice of said violation(s) by letter to the PSP. If said violation(s) are not
				corrected and the Commission notified of said corrections in writing within
				twenty (20) days from the date of the Commission Staff's letter, the Staff is
				authorized to issue a notice to disconnect service to all of the PSP's
				telephones in Georgia. In ac- cordance with the Commission's Letter Order dated
				May 16, 1989, in cases where PSP operated in multiple locations, corrections
				must apply to all locations. If a Disconnection Notice is issued by the Staff,
				said Order will require all PSP telephones operated by PSP in the State of
				Georgia to be disconnected.