TELECOM BILLING CHANGES

After months of preparation and programming, the Division of Communications has undergone the Alltel billing conversion. Just to reiterate what was in our March 2001 PHONE LINES, these are some of the changes you will see on your telecommunications billing:

To assist you with the last item noted below, we are enclosing in this month’s telephone bill, a conversion chart for each Agency. This chart will show the job code, the old billing number and what the new billing number is. It also lists the corresponding station numbers that go with each billing number. You will find this same information for calling cards and installation locations.

If you have any questions regarding the new information on your bill, please contact Zale at 402/471-4703, Lila at 402/471-4191, LaDonna at 402/471-4701 or Jayne at 402/471-3454.

NEW LANGUAGE LINE RATE

Effective February 1, 2001, the Language Line rate has been lowered to a flat rate of $2.10/minute regardless of language or time of day the service is used.

FISCAL YEAR END REMINDER

The June 2001 Division of Communications ITD’s will have an FY02 Document Number on them. If your agency can process these ITD’s before the FY01 DAS-Accounting deadline, please contact Janet at 402/471-2762 or Shelley at 402/471-3850 for a current fiscal year (FY01) document number.

Want to purchase a fax machine?

The Division of Communications has pre-approved specific models of fax machines that are all under $1,500.00. When thinking about the purchase of a fax machine, please call Mary Woita at 402/471-3562 or look on our website. If the fax machine model is on the pre-approved list, agencies may contact vendors directly to order and install the fax machine. Please keep in mind, in accordance with State Purchasing requirements, agencies are strongly encouraged to get three bids on any purchase over $500.00.

If you would like to purchase a fax machine that is not on the pre-approved list and is under $5,000.00, a purchase requisition (or internal agency document) must be submitted along with three bids to the Division of Communications.

This requisition must include vendor name, fax machine model number, and the quoted price. The bids may be verbal or on a separate piece of paper as the Division does not require any formal bid documents from vendors. This paperwork may be submitted by fax, email or mail. The Division will assure that the machine meets State fax machine standards, approve the purchase, and return the paperwork to the agency within a two-hour time frame.

After receipt of the paperwork, agencies may contact the vendor directly to order and install the fax machine. Agencies wishing to purchase a fax machine over $5,000.00 should follow formal bid procedures through State Purchasing.

Attached to this newsletter is a Division of Communications performance survey to be completed and returned. This performance survey allows our customers to rate the Division staff, services offered, our web site, as well as our accuracy and efficiency. Any comments may be added to the survey and will be appreciated. If you would like a copy of this performance survey, contact Jayne (jaynes@doc.state.ne.us).

Your taking the time to fill out this survey helps us meet our mission of providing economical, efficient and reliable telecommunications to our customers.

800 Call Detail

Due to billing problems as a result of their conversion, Alltel was only able to send us call detail for International 800 calls. Therefore, your 800 number usage will be very low on your May 2001 bill. You will see the remainder of the usage billed on your June 2001 Division of Communications monthly billing.

Directory Listing Closing Dates:

Fremont .....….………Jun 07 Norfolk. .……………… Jun 21

Sidney.. .……………..Jun 22 Wahoo .…….……...….. Jul 13

North Platte..………. .Aug 13