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CC - Item 3B - Resolution 99-21 - Opposting the Application of CPUC to Raise Rates for 411 Calls I S E M F\ � 9\ K :� stafe ort p TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL �--� FROM: FRANK G. TRIPEPI, CITY MANAGEB_�7✓ DATE: MAY 19, 1999 �J RE: RESOLUTION NO. 99-21 - OPPOSING THE APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION(CPUC)TO RAISE RATES FOR "411" CALLS This item was deferred at the regular meeting of the City Council on May 11, 1999, pending further information. Attached is information from Pacific Bell. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council approve Resolution No. 99-21. Attachments • COUNCIL AGENDA MAY 2 51999 ITEM No. • 4• ) RESOLUTION NO. 99-21 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD OPPOSING THE APPLICATION BY SBC/PAC BELL TO RAISE RATES FOR "411" CALLS WHEREAS, SBC/Pac Bell is has submitted an application to raise rates for 411 information service calls before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); and WHEREAS, the application submitted by Pac Bell seeks to raise the ceiling for 411 charges to 51.10 per call, despite research indicated that the actual cost to the company for providing that service is approximately 5.25 per call; and WHEREAS, since Pac Bell provides service for nearly 97% of the accounts located within its service market, thus forcing most residents to utilize that service, despite the cost; and WHEREAS, because it is extremely difficult for residential and commercial consumers to utilize multipletelephone books in order to look up listings on their own, thus forcing a continued reliance on 411 information; and WHEREAS, this effort to raise 411 rates will impact disproportionately those least able to afford additional costs in their lives. NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD HEREBY RESOLVES: I. To oppose SBC/Pac Bell's application to the CPUC to raise rates for 411 calls. 2. Authorize the City Clerk to send certified copies of the resolution to each member of the California Public Utilities Commission. DONE THIS 11TH DAY OF MAY, 1999. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK { Get the Facts on Pacific Bell's Local Directory Assistance There's a lot of bad information out there about our plans to change directory assistance prices. We want our customers to have the facts, which is why we'd like to set the record straight. What is Pacific Bell doing to directory assistance prices? Simply put, we are requesting approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to raise the price of our local directory assistance service from 25 cents to 50 cents per call to recover the costs of providing this service. We have not raised the price of directory assistance (DA) in 15 years—since 1984—and 50 cents is about the national average among local phone companies. How Will I Be Affected? Chances are, you'll see no change at all. Residential customers still would have three free calls each month (currently 5). And the majority of Pacific Bell customers-75 percent— never make that many directory assistance calls in a month. Under the new proposal, our business customers would no longer receive any free calls (currently 2). What If I Can't Use a Phone Book? Then you don't pay a cent for your local directory assistance calls. We offer unlimited free directory assistance to our customers with visual or other physical limitations. Do Consumers Have a Choice for Directory Assistance? They sure do. Lots of them. Dozens of the companies competing for local customers in California, including MCI, AT&T and Sprint, offer local directory assistance to their customers. And, of course, The Pacific Bell White Pages and Smart Yellow Pages are provided to our customers for their local area at no charge. What Is This$1.10 Ceiling Price I Keep Reading About? Our filing with the CPUC requires that we provide a proposed price as well as a ceiling, or maximum price, in filings for competitive services such as directory assistance.. We want our customers to know that our intent is to raise the price of local directory assistance to 50 cents—no more. Setting the ceiling above the proposed price simply offers us future pricing flexibility in an increasingly competitive market, where our competitors like AT&T, MCI and Sprint can raise prices virtually at will and aren't held to the tough regulatory requirements that we are. ! a. a o e o o O o I a h y o o e e e e • Cr r 0 0 0 0 0 O O r/1 N N CS R — Q 6fr^ O V Nen — S V V P O A Or on cn O en F! y V r V y Erg69 fA en tn ve; in kn In In q L 'V" Q �v.. L P Or in a 4, in 49 b 4, ti fA Ci ci o L 0 e e e OO O p t. 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