PHONE LINES

LOWER LONG DISTANCE RATES

Effective on your May 1, 1998 Division of Communications monthly billing, the rates for NeTcomm Nebraska and NeTcomm National were both reduced to $.10 per minute. The rates previously had been $.12 per minute for NeTcomm Nebraska and $.14 per minute for NeTcomm National. The charges for Conference Calls handled through the State Operator were also reduced to $.10 per minute.

CELLULAR FEATURES AVAILABLE!!!

Did you know that when you call someone with your cellular phone, that your cellular number will be displayed if the party at the receiving end subscribes to caller ID? To enable caller ID block, dial *67 before dialing the telephone number you are calling. "Private Number" will be displayed on the receiving party's display.

Ever need to call the person you just spoke with but don't have their cellular number? Dial *69 and your cellular telephone will dial the number of the last person who called you.

Some other useful features available on your cellular telephone are:

• Call forwarding redirects calls to any number you choose. Your cellular telephone will not ring with call forwarding is activated. Press *72 + forwarding telephone number + SND, listen for tones and press END. To cancel, press *73, listen for tones and press END.
• Call diversion redirects calls, if you do not answer your cellular telephone, to any number you choose. Press *71 + forwarding telephone number + SND, listen for tones and press END. To cancel, press *73, listen for tones and press END.
• Three-way calling allows you to dial another number while you are on a call and bring a third person into the conversation. While on your present call, dial the second number and press SND. After the second party answers, press SND to bring the first party back into the conversation. Your first party will hear the tones as you dial.
• Call waiting allows you to go back and forth between two callers. While you are on a call, if another party calls, you will hear a beep. Press SND to answer the second call. Press SND again to speak to the first caller. You will be billed for both calls.

If you have any questions about any of these features, contact Norma at 402/471-6391.

NEW LONG DISTANCE CONTRACT

The contract for long distance, calling card and 800# service has been awarded to AT&T effective July 1, 1998. All State of Nebraska employees will be able to continue using the same AT&T calling card that has already been assigned to them.

COMMONLY ASKED BILLING QUESTIONS

Q: What does Billing Code 200 on my monthly bill mean?

A: Calls that appear under billing code 200 are long distance calls that are not handled by the State's network. These calls can be Operator Assisted, Direct Dialed International, Third Number Billed, Collect Calls and Directory Assistance to 555-1212. This billing code will also show the automated billing of cellular air time and all state calling cards. Most records are identified by a message type code in the MT column. The most common message type codes are 1) Direct dialed call, 2) Third number billed call, 3) Calling card call, and 4) collect call.

Q: Does the Division of Communications accept credit card payments?

A: Effective July 1, 1998, the Division of Communications started accepting Visa and Mastercard. Any service that we offer such as Video Conferencing, your monthly telephone service or the purchase of the Nebraska State Government Directory can now be paid for by credit card. Payment can either be made by coming into our office at 521 S. 14th Street, Suite 300, Lincoln, NE or by calling LaDonna at 402/471-4701 and making payment over the telephone.

BEWARE OF TELEPHONE SCAMS!!!

The Division of Communications has recently received several calls from customers involving telephone scams. The customer has received a telephone call from an individual falsely identifying himself as a Service Technician from a telephone company and that he was running a test on their telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test they should touch nine (9) zero (0) pound sign (#) and hang up. By pressing 9-0-# this gives the individual access to your telephone line and allows them to place long distance calls with the charges appearing on your telephone bill.

Although AT&T tries to monitor telephone lines for simultaneous usage or high usage to international numbers, they are not always able to do this. Your employees need to be informed that a representative from a telephone company will not call and ask them to press 9-0-#. If someone does ask them to do this, the employee needs to get the name and telephone number of where the individual's employment can be verified. Above all else, employees should not accommodate these individuals.

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DIRECTORY LISTING CLOSING DATES:

The following commercial telephone directories close their listings in the near future. If you have any offices listed in the local directories for these towns, please review your listings and contact LaDonna at 402-471-4701 if you have any changes.