CUC begins probe of ‘411’ charges by MTC

CUC begins probe of ‘411’ charges by MTC

The Commonwealth Utilities Corporation has begun its inquiry into the “411” charges implemented by Micronesian Telecommunication Corporation following what it said as mounting complaints from customers.

Frank T. Flores, chair of CUC board’s telecommunications committee, asked MTC to provide the panel corporate reports, financial statements and analysis on the operation of the directory assistance.

In a letter to MTC General Manager David M. Rogers, he said the move is part of the regulatory functions by the government-owned utility corporation over the telecom industry as provided under the law.

Mr. Flores pointed out his committee has received “several verbal complaints and concerns” regarding the “411” charges which MTC carried out last May.

The new policy requires callers using the directory assistance to pay a 25 cent toll fee after three free calls allowed per month. It is intended to discourage people from dialing 411 to ask for phone numbers, according to company officials.

MTC, the lone domestic phone service provider in the CNMI, claimed “411” had cost the company additional expenses for overtime pay for its operators who are using the 24-hour computer service.

On an average, operators used to receive as much as 4,500 calls per day or about 130,000 calls every month because of the fact that the 411 service was free of charge, it said.

Mr. Flores, however, renewed the board’s earlier appeal to MTC to offer leeway to its customers by increasing the free calls to at least five per billing cycle.

He also asked the company to shed light on other issues, such as the information given and language used by the operator as well as procedures in imposing the fee in situation where numbers have changed, among other things.

The board also wants to find out whether MTC has a system for keeping track of the number and type of inquiries or complaints as well as information campaign about the charges, said Mr. Flores.

House Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication chair Rep. Rosiky F. Camacho has previously raised concern on the new MTC policy, which was one of the reasons that prompted him to push legislation creating a new regulatory body for the telecom sector.