Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 25 - COIN-OPERATED TELEPHONE SERVICE › Section 407-25-2 - General Requirements for COCOTs and LECCOTs

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
				All COCOTs in both public and semi-public locations shall provide instrument
				implemented service, and shall be connected to the telephone network through a
				tariffed Public Access Line. LECCOTs in public and semi-public locations may
				provide either central office implemented service or instrument implemented
				service.
B. All COCOTs and LECCOTs
				in both public and semi-public locations shall be required to be registered
				under Part 68 of the Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications
				Commission ( 47 C.F.R. §68 ). In lieu of this a COCOT provider may connect
				a COCOT instrument to the network through an FCC-registered coupler.
C. All COCOT and LECCOT instruments shall be
				hearing aid compatible.
D. All
				COCOTs and LECCOTs shall be installed in compliance with the NARUC
				generally-accepted telecommunications industry standards, applicable local
				codes, and the current National Electric Code and National Electric Safety
				Code.
E. All COCOT instruments, and
				all LECCOT instruments in exchanges served by electronic switching equipment,
				shall provide emergency access to a local exchange company operator and 911
				service (where available), free of charge and without use of a coin or credit
				card.
F. All COCOT and LECCOT sites
				shall provide either a legible, current local exchange directory, or free
				directory assistance. However, at sites where the local calling area includes
				out-of-state points, current directories covering the entire local calling area
				shall be provided.
G. All
				coin-operated COCOT and pre-pay LECCOT instruments shall possess the capability
				of returning, and shall return, deposited coins for uncompleted
				calls.
H. All coin-operated COCOT
				AND LECCOT instruments shall accept coins of various denominations.
I. All COCOTs in public and semi-public
				locations shall be posted with the name and a local or toll-free telephone
				number of the COCOT service provider. All LECCOTs in public and semi-public
				locations shall be posted with the name and a local or toll-free telephone
				number of the local exchange carrier.
J. All COCOTs and LECCOTs shall be posted
				with operating instructions, the applicable rates, call time limits where
				applicable, and the particular instrument's Public Access line
				number.
K. All COCOT and LECCOT
				instruments shall be posted with the method for reporting complaints and
				obtaining refunds in a cost-free manner. The office or individual hearing such
				complaints shall attempt to resolve them. If no resolution is achieved, the
				complainant shall be informed of the right to seek resolution of the dispute
				with the Public Utilities Commission's Consumer Assistance Division, and shall
				be provided that Division's toll-free number.
L. When not in working order, all COCOT and
				LECCOT instruments shall be capable of giving an out-of-order message, or such
				a notice shall be posted at the COCOT or LECCOT location.
M. All COCOTs and LECCOTs must bear a notice
				indicating whether the instrument is capable of receiving incoming
				calls.
N. Except as specifically
				authorized by the Commission, a COCOT or LECCOT user shall not be charged for
				uncompleted calls.
O. No
				extension(s) shall be connected to the COCOT or the COCOT Public Access Line
				which would enable third party access to conversations. However, one additional
				telephone without a coin collecting device may be installed in connection with
				LECCOT semi-public service when the station is essential to efficient use of
				the service; the terms of this semi-public extension telephone service must be
				set by tariff.
P. All COCOT and
				LECCOT instruments shall comply with all applicable federal and state
				requirements as to accessibility to handicapped persons, including, without
				limitation,
				25 M.R.S.A. §
										2701(10) and 25 M.R.S.A.
				§ 7503.