(1) The following shall constitute violations of the Commission’s rules and requirements for authorized public pay telephone service:
- (a) Charging an amount for local calls and intrastate toll calls which exceeds the amount authorized by the Commission.
- (b) Imposing a time limit for local calls or failing to provide two-way calling service unless one-way service is authorized by the Commission.
- (c) Charging for or failing to provide access without depositing money for calls to the operator, 911 or emergency numbers where 911 is not available, toll-free services, or intrastate or local directory assistance
- (d) Attaching the instrument to any subscribed access line service other than a single public telephone access line directly connected to the LEC network and billed at the tariff rate.
- (e) Attaching the instrument to an extension instrument without a private cut-off to automatically disconnect when the receiver is lifted for service, and operating semi- public additional sets connected to an authorized instrument in violation of the applicable tariff of the local exchange company, with the exception that such extension may have a dial or tone pad.
(f) Failure to display prominently on the face of the pay telephone instrument any of the following:
- 1. A statement identifying the charge and operating instructions for its use.
- 2. A statement indicating the name of the owner of the instrument and identifying the long distance carrier serving the instrument.
- 3. A telephone number, which can be reached without charge or without having to deposit money where users can report malfunctions and obtain refunds.
- 4. The Tennessee Public Utility Commission authorization number.
(g) Failure to meet any of the following:
- 1. Requirements governing telephone service access by impaired or handicapped persons as required by Commission rule.
- 2. All applicable telecommunications industry and electrical safety standards as required by Commission rule.
- (h) Failure to provide instruments capable of accepting nickels, dimes, and quarters (waived for coinless pay phones).
- (i) Failure to return coins to the customer for incomplete calls (waived for coinless pay phones).
- (j) Failure to repair the instrument within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by the Commission, unless such repairs are the responsibility of the LEC providing access and failure to provide refunds in a timely manner.
- (k) Failure to provide access without charge to all interexchange carriers certificated to do business in Tennessee in the preferred manner designated with the Commission by each IXC, unless said instrument is owned by an interexchange carrier.
Authority: T.C.A. § 65-4-116. Administrative History: Original rule filed May 17, 1990; effective July 1, 1990. Editorial changes made by the Secretary of State pursuant to Public Chapter 305 of 1995; “Commission” and references to the “Commission” were changed to “Authority” and references to the “Authority”; effective March 28, 2003. Administrative changes made to this chapter on April 27, 2018 pursuant to Public Chapter 94 of 2017; “Tennessee Regulatory Authority” references were changed to “Tennessee Public Utility Commission,” “Authority” references were changed to “Commission,” “Authority Director” references were changed to “Commissioner,” and “Chief” references were changed to “Director.”