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Telecommunications Customer Choice – Frequently Asked Questions



   
 
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Q. What is local telecommunications customer choice?

The federal and D.C. Telecommunications Acts of 1996 were the first major overhaul of telecommunications law in almost 62 years. The primary goal of these laws was to enable consumers to choose their local telecommunications provider. The District of Columbia Public Service Commission has implemented this goal certificating competitors, called Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (“CLECs”) to provide services in the District. The following link provides more detailed information: http://www.dcpsc.org/customerchoice/whatis/telecommunications/telecommunications.shtm
 
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Q. Who are the local telecommunications providers in the District, what services do they offer, and how can you contact them?

As of December 2008, Verizon and 46 CLECs provided local telecommunications services in the District. Of these, 16 companies, Verizon and 15 CLECs, offer local residential services. There are several categories of local residential services; namely, basic local service only; basic local service combined (“bundled”) with custom calling features such as Call Waiting and Caller ID; basic local service bundled with long distance service; and basic local service bundled with Internet and other services. Click on the link below for a list of the 16 local residential providers, the types of services they offer, and their contact information: http://www.dcpsc.org/pdf_files/customerchoice/telecommunications/Local_tele_service_Dec08.pdf*
 
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Q. What are their prices?

Prices vary among providers, depending on the category of services. The Commission strives to provide pricing information for the District’s residential telecommunications service providers. You can find prices as of December 2008 on the Commission’s website by clicking on the link below:
http://www.dcpsc.org/pdf_files/customerchoice/telecommunications/Residential_Tel_Price_Dec08.pdf*
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Q. What questions should you ask if you are considering switching providers?

When considering switching from one telecommunications provider to another, you should, at a minimum, ask the following questions:

  1. Can I retain my old telephone number?
  2. Will it cost me anything to switch and if yes, how much?
  3. How much do you charge for local and long distance service?
  4. What are the approximate taxes and other charges?
  5. Is your telephone service “voice-over-internet-protocol” (“VOIP”) or “regular switched telephone” service? (This is important because most voice-over-internet-protocol phones need electricity to work and some landline phones do not. Moreover, the Commission does not regulate VOIP services.)
  6. What are your customer service and repair service hours?
  7. How frequently will I receive my bill?
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Q. What is the status of local telecommunications competition?

As of December 2008, Verizon and 46 CLECs serve residential and commercial customers in the District. The Commission tracks the status of local telecommunications based on several measures; namely, (1) the number providers, (2) share of lines, and (3) share of revenues. Please click on the link below for the detailed information, by year.
http://www.dcpsc.org/pdf_files/customerchoice/telecommunications/Status_Local_Tel_Comp.pdf*


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