NEW CALLING CARDS

The new Alltel Calling Cards have been distributed to your agency and should be used immediately. The gray AT&T cards will be deactivated October 1, 2003.

To Place a call:

• Dial 1-800-ALLTEL-5 (1-800-255-8355)
• Enter the 14 digit card number (10-digit number plus 4-digit PIN)
• Enter the area code and phone number you are calling
• Rotary phones – stay on the line and an operator will assist you
• Press “0” at any prompt for assistance

The PIN number is no longer printed on your card, however it is printed on the flyer the card is attached to. The Division of Communications does not have a record of your PIN. If you forget your PIN or desire a change, there will be a $10 order charge passed on to your agency. All orders for changes must be processed through your agency Communications Coordinator.

If you need to make any changes to your card, you will be issued a new card number and the old number will be deactivated. The card should be destroyed.

To increase efficiency and economies to the State, orders for new cards will be placed with Alltel on the 15th of the month. If an employee needs a card immediately, a temporary card will be issued. When the permanent card is received, it will have a new number and PIN. Once you have received the permanent card, the temporary number will be deactivated and the temporary card should be destroyed.

AVOID DIALING "1" FOR CELLULAR CALLS AND AVOID UNNECESSARY CHARGES

Unlike your landline telephone, your cellular telephone may not require dialing a "1" when you are making long distance calls. Cellular telephones have calling areas that determine whether the call is charged long distance rates or not. But since most of us do not carry around a map of our calling area, how do you know if you need to dial a "1" or not? Dial your cellular calls without the "1". If you are within your calling area, the call will be completed and you will not be charged long distance. If you are outside of your calling area, you will receive a message instructing you that you must dial a "1" prior to the number. You may be incurring unnecessary toll charges if you are dialing a "1" before the telephone number on all your cellular telephone calls.

ON LINE ORDERING

The Division of Communications has been experimenting with an on line ordering system over the past few months for some of our services. Over the next few months we anticipate adding more on line ordering services such as cellular, paging and calling card to name a few. If you have suggestions for additional services that you would like to order on line, please drop us a note doc-web@doc.state.ne.us or contact Jayne at 402/471-3454.

Directory Listing Closing Dates:

EMPLOYEE CHANGES

Cydnee Golden joined the Division of Communications staff on July 24, 2003. Cydnee is in the Accounts Receivable/Billing section and can assist you with questions regarding your monthly DOC billing. She can be reached at 402-471-4191 or via email at cgolden@doc.state.ne.us

After 17 years with the Division, LaDonna Pankoke retired August 22, 2003. LaDonna was with the Accounts Receivable/Billing section. We all wish LaDonna the best as she embarks on new adventures.

- Reminder -

The Division of Communications has AA Batteries available for your telecommunications equipment. We currently have boxes of 4 for $1.28. Call Norma White at 402/471-3562 to place an order.

NOTICE REGARDING UNSOLICITED TELEPHONE CALLS AND FAX MESSAGES

The federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) was enacted to provide consumers information on how to reduce unsolicited telephone calls and fax messages, and the federal Telemarketing and consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act was passed to address abusive telemarketing practices.

The TCPA and the Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act provide the following:

• No telemarketing calls can be made to your home before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m.
• Telemarketing companies must maintain a “do-not-call” list
• The telemarketer must disclose the total cost of the goods, any restriction on using them and whether all sales are final or non-refundable.
• If the call is for a prize promotion, the telemarketer must tell you that no purchase or payment is required to win or participate in the promotion, the odds for winning and all material costs or conditions to receive the prize.
• Transmission of unsolicited advertisements to fax machines is prohibited.
• Fax messages must clearly mark on each page: the date and time it is sent; the identity of the sender; and the telephone number of the sender or the sending fax machine.
• Artificial or prerecorded voice messages using an autodialer must identify the entity initiating the call, give the caller’s telephone number or address, and release the called party’s line within five seconds of notice that the called party has hung up.

How to prevent unwanted telemarketing calls:

• Register your telephone number (including cell phone numbers) on the National Do-Not-Call Registry: call 1-888-382-1222; for TTY call 1-866-290-4236; online at www.donotcall.gov.
• Telemarketers have up to three months to remove the number from their call lists.
• Number will remain on registry for five years from date of your registration or until you remove it by calling 1-888-382-1222 or for TTY, 1-866-290-4236.
• If you do not want to register on the national registry but want to prevent calls from specific individual telemarketers, ask to be put on their company’s do-not-call list when they call.
• Contact the Direct Marketing Association to have your name removed from telephone solicitation lists: Telephone Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014.
• Contact the following directory compilation company and request that your name be removed: Equifax, Attn: List Suppression File, 26955 Northwestern Highway, South Field, MI 48034; Telephone Number 1-800-873-7655.

NOTE: Do-not-call rules are for residential telephone numbers and does not apply to business telephone numbers. The Division of Communications is working with the appropriate entities to handle this issue for the State. Placing your number on a do-not-call list will not stop calls from political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors or companies with which you have an existing relationship. Companies with which you have an established business relationship may call you for up to 18 months after your last purchase unless you ask the company not to call again.

How to file a complaint: call 1-888-382-1222; for TTY, call 1-866-290-4236; online at www.donotcall.gov; via mail to FCC, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Division, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.

(This article was modified from a Hamilton Telecommunications Newsletter printed 9/1/03)