CELLULAR RATE CHANGE

The Division of Communications has spent the past few months reevaluating the cellular service used by State agencies. As a result of this study, a new rate methodology will be implemented saving the State approximately $25,000 per month in cellular charges. Effective with the March billing, cellular calls will be billed at a flat $.17 per minute for analog cellular telephones. There will no longer be a monthly charge for voice mail or access.

To assist you in determining what this change means for your agency, the Division of Communications has re-run your October, November, and December 1999 cellular billing using the new rate scenario and mailed this to your Agency Director. If you did not receive notification, or if you have any questions, please contact Mike at 402/471-3719 or Norma at 402/471-6391.

2000 STATE TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES

The 2000 NEBRASKA STATE GOVERNMENT DIRECTORIES have been distributed to all state agencies. Thank you to all of the agency communications coordinators who continue to provide us assistance in this annual undertaking. These books will once again be sold to the general public by contacting the Division of Communications at 402/471-2761 or stopping by the Communications' reception desk. The cost to the general public for the directory will remain at $5.00 per copy. The information is also available on the Internet at http://www.state.ne.us. Then select State Phone Directory.

TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT PHASE-OUT

The Division of Communications in cooperation with Alltel has recently completed a tariff search for items still shown to be in service on the Lincoln Centrex (471-XXXX) that are over ten years old. The search indicated that over 200 of the proprietary "P" telephones are still in use by State agencies. These are the wedge-shaped black and ash colored sets with nine square keys down the right side.

The "P" telephones were dropped from production by Nortel in mid-1989. Nortel no longer supports them for repair or replacement. Alltel has a limited supply on hand for service replacement. When these are gone, the "P" sets will need to be replaced. If your agency utilizes any "P" telephones, you should consider being proactive in having them replaced before being forced to do so at a time that may not be convenient. For current options and costs involved, call Carter at 402/471-4702.

TWO NEW TOLL-FREE AREA CODES

 On or about April 2000, two additional toll-free area codes -- 866 and 855 -- will be added to existing 800, 888, and 877 options. The need for these new area codes reflects the explosion in the use of toll-free numbers. The Division of Communications is taking steps to make sure your telephone equipment is compatible, and that it will support the additions of these new toll-free area codes.

NEW TELECONFERENCE SERVICE

 On February 1, 2000, a toll-free "Meet Me Conference Bridge" service was implemented. The service has been established to provide a way for State agencies to pay the long distance charges of participants in a conference call. The service will accommodate up to 30 users.

 To use the service:

• Call the conference operator at 471-9997. Ask to reserve a date and time to use the State Conference Bridge.
• Give the conference operator your name, agency name, your telephone number and the telephone number you want the calls billed to.
• Give the conference operator the approximate length of the call.
• Inform participants to call 888-866-4213 (471-6000 if in Lincoln) at the prearranged date and time.

Your agency will be billed usage at $7.50 per conference call plus the current $.12/per minute Netcom toll-free rate for each participant. For additional information, please contact the Division of Communications at 402/471-2761.

NEW DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS EMPLOYEES

Two Data Communications Specialist positions have been filled in the Division. Moin Quraishi and James Howell have been hired to fill these positions. Welcome to both of you!

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.