16 Tex. Admin. Code § 26.124 - Pay-Per-Call Information Services Call Blocking
(a) Free blocking. Within 90 days of being
declared a dominant carrier, all dominant certificated telecommunications
utilities (DCTUs) are required, upon request from the end user only, to block
access to all pay-per-call information services when a call is placed to a
1-900-XXX-XXXX or 976-XXXX number. There will be no charge to the end user for
the first blocking request when pay-per-call information service blocking is
first installed on the end user's line. However, there may be a non-recurring
charge applicable for subsequent blocking requests, if prior blocking has been
removed and is being reinstated.
(b) Subscription to blocking.
(1) End users not currently receiving
blocking. To restrict access to pay-per-call information services, end users
must order blocking either orally or by using a written ballot. Within 60 days
of being declared a DCTU, each DCTU must notify its end users of the free
blocking opportunity and send a post-paid ballot to all existing end users
(either through bill inserts or a separate mailing) allowing them to choose
whether they want to restrict access to pay-per-call information
services.
(2) New end users must be
offered free blocking of pay-per-call information service calls at the time of
their service order. There will be no charge to the end user for the first
blocking request, but there may be a non-recurring charge applicable for
subsequent blocking requests.
(3)
End users electing not to restrict access to pay-per-call information services
will have access to all 900 and 976 pay-per-call information services available
in their service area.
(c) Mandatory blocking. In areas where
restricting access to pay-per-call information services on a selective,
per-line basis is not technically possible, all access to the pay-per-call
information services must be blocked.
(1) End
users whose access to pay-per-call information services is blocked pursuant to
this provision shall be notified prior to the time of the blocking that such
blocking will take place, the fact that such blocking is being done pursuant to
this section, and that such blocking is required due to the fact that
restriction of access to such services is not technically possible at that
time.
(2) Once an area that has
been mandatorily blocked attains the technological capability to provide
per-line blocking, the DCTU shall provide the notice and balloting procedures
set out in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. A blocking request from the
end user received thereafter by the DCTU shall be treated as an initial
blocking request and implemented without charge.
(d) Disconnection. A DCTU may not disconnect
an end user's local telephone service for nonpayment of charges for
pay-per-call information service. A DCTU may implement involuntary blocking of
pay-per-call information service for nonpayment of charges for pay-per-call
information service.
(e)
Compliance. Each DCTU that is subject to rate of return regulation under Public
Utility Regulatory Act, Chapter 53 shall file tariffs in compliance with this
section. The compliance tariffs will be reviewed by staff. Within 35 days of
the date of filing of the tariffs, the tariffs will either be approved or the
effective date of the tariff will be suspended for further review.
Notes
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