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CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO LONG DISTANCE CALLING.
THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE CHANGES
For years consumers have been able to choose a long distance carrier to handle most
of their long distance calls. The most common of those calls were interstate and international calls. The
Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC or the Commission) would like to tell you about the changes that
recently have been made to give consumers greater choices to their in-state long distance calling.
In-state long distance refers to all long distance calls made to and from a place
within Maryland.
| CUSTOMERS MAY CHOOSE ANY CARRIER TO HANDLE THEIR IN-STATE OR INTRALATA
TOLLS! |
Effective May 7, 1999 residential and business consumers are allowed to have two presubscribed primary
interexchange carrier (PIC) selections. One PIC is for InterLATA calls and the other PIC is for all IntraLATA
calls. InterLATA calls are long distance toll calls that are not within the local telephone company's
Regional Calling Area. These calls have always been handled by your chosen long distance carrier.
IntraLATA calls or "short distance toll calls" refer to calls to an area outside of your
local calling area, but generally not as far away as those covered by standard long distance toll service
providers. These calls are in-state and part of the Regional Calling Area listed in the consumer section of
the telephone directory. These calls are listed separately from local calls and are itemized on your bill by
the local telephone company.Prior to May 7, 1999 Bell Atlantic handled exclusively all calls that were within
its Regional Calling Area. If a consumer wanted another carrier to handle the short long toll calls they had
to dial around to a long distance carrier's access code (101XXXX) before dialing the phone number. Now
consumers can presubscribe to another carrier so that those calls are handled automatically by a preferred
long distance carrier. If the consumer does not make any selection, the consumer's local phone company will
continue to handle those calls. Additionally, if the consumer chooses a preferred carrier, he or she can
still "dial around" and use another carrier to handle those calls. In doing so, the consumer will
be billed that company's non-subscriber rates. Below are some additional facts concerning this important
change:
- All local exchange carriers (LECs) and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) are required to offer
intraLATA presubscription to their customers. The local phone company may charge up to $5.00 per line for all
intraLATA PIC changes. Between May 7 to August 4, 1999 existing customers will not be charged for the first
IntraLATA PIC change. New customers and existing customers ordering an additional line will be able to make a
FREE intraLATA PIC choice within 30 days from the time they sign up for the service. Customers may obtain a
list of IntraLATA carriers by calling 1-888-611-6980. Customers may dial 1 + (area code) + 700-4141 to verify
their intraLATA presubscribed carrier.
- Customers may dial 1 + (area code) + 555-4141 to verify their interLATA carrier.
REGIONAL TOLL DIALING PLAN
| If the customer dials: |
 |
Then the call is handled By: |
| Area Code + 7 Digit Number |
Local Phone Company |
| 0 |
Local Phone Company |
| 0 + Intraexchange |
Local Phone Company |
| 1 + Area Code + 7 Digit Number |
Presubscribed IntraLATA Toll Provider |
| 0 + Area Code + 7 Digit Number |
Presubscribed IntraLATA Toll Provider |
TECH JARGON
CIC - Stands for carrier identification code. A CIC is
a unique numeric code that is assigned to carriers or other entities that access a local exchange
carriers' (LEC) network. LECs use CICs to identify, bill, and route traffic to access customers. Access
customers may include inter-exchange carriers (IXCs), wireless carriers, competitive access providers and
large corporate users.
CAC - Stands for carrier access code. It is not the
same as the CIC. It is a numeric code that consists of a prefix followed by a carrier's unique CIC.
Consumers may dial a carrier's CAC in order to access another carrier to handle a long distance call
without making a change in long distance carriers.
PIC - Stands for primary interexchange carrier. Your
PIC is the carrier you selected to provide your primary long distance service. From your home telephone
you can access your PIC by dialing 1 + the area code and the seven digit number. Beginning May 7, 1999
consumers are allowed to have a two PIC option. One PIC for the IntraLATA calls and the other PIC for all
other long distance calls.
LATA - A continuous geographic calling area established by a
Federal Court with the divestiture of AT&T. Each LATA is referred to in the telephone directory as a
Regional Calling Area. All local telephone companies provide local service within a LATA or Regional
Calling Area. Maryland is divided into four LATAs: Baltimore, Hagerstown, Salisbury and D.C.
The PSC's Office of External Relations will assist you if you have any questions concerning intrastate
long distance service.
Have a Question??
Maryland Public Service Commission
Office of External Relations
William D. Schaefer Tower
6 St. Paul Street, 15th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
Voice:(410) 767-8028 or (800) 492-0474
Fax: (410) 333-6844
Send Email
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