Section 3.52.377. Detariffing of prepaid calling card services.

	(a)  Except as provided in (c) of this section, an interexchange carrier that offers a prepaid calling card service is not required to include those services in its tariff if the prepaid service is available for sale to the general public.  
	(b)  Except for cards provided at no charge to the final customer, prepaid calling cards may not be limited to a single customer or group of customers.  
	(c)  Prepaid calling card services sold to inmates in a correctional facility are not eligible for detariffing under this section.  
	(d)  Each rate, term, condition, and limitation of service must be clearly posted at the point of sale, and the following information must be  
		(1) placed on the card:  
			(A) the name of the service provider;  
			(B) the access telephone number;  
			(C) the customer's personal identification number (PIN);  
			(D) a toll-free customer service telephone number;  
		(2) placed on the card or card packaging:  
			(A) the expiration policy, if any;  
			(B) the recharge policy, if any;  
			(C) the policy for rounding of billing increments;  
			(D) either the total number of billing units or the rate per billing unit;  
		(3) placed on the card packaging:  
			(A) the name of the service provider;  
			(B) a toll-free customer service telephone number; and  
		(4) posted at the point of sale:  
			(A) the name of the service provider;  
			(B) a toll-free customer service telephone number;  
			(C) a list of each surcharge and surcharge amount, expressed in minutes or in billing units if the billing unit is not a minute;  
			(D) the expiration policy, if any;  
			(E) the recharge policy, if any;  
			(F) the policy for rounding of billing increments;  
			(G) the card's total number of billing units;  
			(H) the rate per billing unit;  
			(I) sufficient information for the customer to easily determine the maximum rate per minute.  
	(e)  An interexchange carrier shall refund the purchase price or provide a replacement prepaid calling card to a customer if the card does not work as represented or the requirements of (d) of this section are not met. The commission may direct that a refund be provided to a customer for good cause.  
	(f)  In this section,  
		(1) "prepaid calling card" means a card  
			(A) that enables a purchaser to make domestic or international long distance telephone calls by  
				(i) dialing the toll-free number on the carrier's connecting switch; and  
				(ii) using a personal identification number (PIN) placed on the card;  
			(B) for which the purchaser prepays a specific dollar amount;  
			(C) that provides minutes of long distance service, or units per minute, that  
				(i) are based upon the specific rates set by the carrier; and  
				(ii) as a call is made, are automatically deducted from the card balance of usable minutes or units, with the balance being recorded either on the card itself or on a central computer through which the calls are routed; and  
			(D) that may be rechargeable, allowing the purchaser to add more minutes, or units per minute, of calling time by  
				(i) dialing a toll-free telephone number or visiting an Internet web site; and  
				(ii) using a credit card;  
		(2) "long distance service" has the meaning given in AS 42.05.890.  

Authorities

42.05.141;42.05.151;42.05.711;42.05.810

Notes

Reference

3 AAC 52.358
3 AAC 52.367
3 AAC 53.620

Authority

AS 42.05.141 AS 42.05.151 AS 42.05.711 AS 42.05.810

History

Eff. 5/18/2003, Register 166