PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 News media information 202/418-0500 Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222. ______________________________________________________________________ DA 98-2055 October 21, 1998 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU ANNOUNCES AGENDA FOR FORUM ADDRESSING TRUTH-IN-BILLING This Public Notice includes information on the Common Carrier Bureau's Truth-in-Billing Public Forum, as well as an agenda for the Forum. Date: Friday, October 23, 1998 Location: Commission Meeting Room Federal Communications Commission 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554 Time: 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The Common Carrier Bureau will host a public forum to discuss how to make telephone bills more readable and understandable to enable consumers to make informed choices about telecommunications services and to protect themselves against telecommunications-related fraud. The forum is part of an ongoing Commission proceeding regarding the provision of information in telephone bills to consumers. The Commission initiated this proceeding with its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Truth-in-Billing and Billing Format. Forum participants will include industry members, the Federal Trade Commission, State Commissions and State Attorneys General, and consumer advocacy groups. The participants will discuss several issues raised in the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, such as: (1) organizing consumer bills; (2) alerting consumers to changes in their bills; (3) including full and non-misleading descriptions on bills; (4) providing consumers with the information necessary to resolve billing disputes; and (5) informing consumers about line item charges. Using an open discussion format, the Commission anticipates that participants will proffer concrete and workable proposals to advance consumer understanding of telephone bills. The Forum is open to the public and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. - FCC - For additional information contact: Toni Simmons at (202) 418-0979. TRUTH-IN-BILLING FORUM October 23, 1998, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. AGENDA 8:30 - 8:40 Opening remarks by Federal Communications Commission Issue 1: How should telephone bills be organized? 8:40 - 8:50 Presentation by carriers. 8:50 - 9:15 Roundtable discussion by forum participants. Issue 2: How should consumers be alerted to changes in their bills? 9:15 - 9:25 Presentation by National Consumers League. 9:25 - 9:50 Roundtable discussion by forum participants. Issue 3: What constitutes a full and non-misleading description on a telephone bill? 9:50 - 10:00 Presentation by the Federal Trade Commission. 10:00 - 10:25 Roundtable discussion by forum participants. 10:25 - 10:55 Audience questions. 10:55 - 11:10 BREAK Issue 4: What types of information do consumers need to make inquiries or complaints? 11:10 - 11:20 Presentation by state public utilities commissions. 11:20 - 11:45 Roundtable discussion by forum participants. Issue 5: Should consumers be more fully informed about line item charges such as universal service and access charges? 11:45 - 11:55 Presentation by Consumers Union. 11:55 - 12:20 Roundtable discussion by forum participants. 12:20 - 12:40 Audience questions. 12:40 - 12:50 Closing remarks by the Federal Communications Commission. Forum Participants Carriers: Celia Nogales Marie Breslin Ameritech Bell Atlantic 1401 H Street, NW 1400 Eye Street, NW Suite 1020 Suite 400 West Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20005 phone (202) 326-3810 phone (202) 326-7893 fax (202) 326-3826 fax (202) 336-7866 Whit Jordan Michael Fingerhut BellSouth Sprint Communications 1133 21st Street, NW 1850 M Street, NW Suite 900 Suite 1110 Washington, DC 20036 Washington, DC 20036 phone (202) 463-4114 phone (202) 828-7438 fax (202) 463-4198 fax (202) 857-1792 Christine Jines BB Nugent SBC Telecommunications Inc. U S WEST 1400 Eye Street, NW 1020 19th Street, N.W. Suite 1100 Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20036 phone (202) 326-8879 phone (202) 429-3131 fax (202) 463-5239 fax (202) 296-5157 Larry Sarjeant David Gusky USTA TRA 1400 H Street, NW 1730 K Street, NW Suite 600 Suite 1201 Washington, DC 20005 Washington, DC 20006-3868 phone (202) 326-7300 phone (202) 835-9898 x3006 fax (202) 326-7333 fax (202) 835-9893 James Warta Len Sawicki RCN Regulatory MCI Communications Corp. 105 Carnegie Center 1801 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Princeton, NJ 08540 Washington, DC 20006 phone (609) 734-7502 phone (202) 887-2048 fax (609) 734-6167 fax (202) 887-2676 Federal Government Eileen Harrington Fred Lee Federal Trade Commission National Telecommunications Industry 6th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Association Room H-238 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20580 Room 4725 phone (202) 326-3127 Washington, DC 20230 fax (202) 326-3395 phone (202) 482-1880 fax (202) 482-6173 States: David Gilles Neil Fishman NAAG Connecticut Attorney General Assistant Attorney General 110 Sherman Street Office of Consumer Protection Hartford, CT 06105 123 West Washington Avenue phone (860) 808-5400 P.O. Box 7857 fax (860) 808-5593 Madison, WI 53707-7857 phone (608) 266-1792 fax (608) 267-2778 Jill Sanford Jo Kirkel New York Attorney General Director of Enforcement Section 120 Broadway of the Customer Protection New York City, NY 10271-0332 Texas PUC phone (212) 416-8000 P.O. Box 13376 fax (212) 416-6003 Austin, TX 78711 phone (512) 936-7144 Consumer groups: fax (512) 936-7003 Jane King Gene Kimmelman Manager - Consumer Issues Consumers Union AARP 1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW. 601 E Street, NW. Suite 310 Washington, DC 20049 Washington, DC 20009 phone (202) 434-2277 phone (202) 462-6262 fax (202) 434-6466 fax (202) 265-9548 Susan Grant Vice President for Public Policy National Consumers League 1701 K Street, NW. Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20006 phone (202) 835-3323 fax (202) 835-0747 Audience Members Industry consultants: Jackie Mitchell Irene Etzkorn Vice President, Operations Siegal & Gale Billing Concepts 10 Rockerfeller Plaza 7411 John Smith Dr. New York, NY 10020 Suite 200 phone (212) 707-3960 San Antonio, TX 78229-4898 fax (212) 707-4014 phone (210) 949-7000 fax (210) 949-7044 Michael Pahutski Convergys 6th & Vine Streets Cincinnati, OH 45202 phone (513) 784-6581 fax (513) 784-5425