| (a) Application. The provisions of this section applies
to all telephone directory providers to the extent outlined by this
section. This section does not apply to a deregulated company holding
a certificate of operating authority, or to an exempt carrier that
meets the criteria of Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) §52.154.
For purposes of this section, the term "a private for-profit publisher"
means a publisher, other than a telecommunications utility or its
affiliate, of a telephone directory that contains residential listings
and is distributed to the public at minimal or no cost.
(b) Telephone directory requirements for all providers.
A private, for-profit publisher, and a telecommunications utility
or affiliate of a telecommunications utility that publishes a residential
telephone directory must comply with the following requirements:
(1) A telephone directory must contain a listing of
each toll-free and local telephone number for each of the following:
(A) state agencies;
(B) state public services; and
(C) elected state officials who represent all or part
of the geographical area for which the directory contains listings.
(2) The directory must include the information required
in paragraph (1) of this subsection from the most current edition
of the Capitol Complex Telephone System Directory prepared and issued
by the Department of Information Resources and those modifications
to the Capitol Complex Telephone System Directory that are available
upon request from the Department of Information Resources.
(3) All publishers must contact the Department of Information
Resources in writing to determine which issue of the Capitol Complex
Telephone System Directory is most current and to obtain the modifications
referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The Department of
Information Resources will respond within 30 days of receiving the
request.
(4) The listings required by paragraph (1) of this
subsection:
(A) may be located at the front of the directory or,
if not located at the front of the directory, must be referenced clearly
on the inside page of the cover or on the first page following the
cover before the main listing of residential and business telephone
numbers;
(B) must be labeled "GOVERNMENT OFFICES - STATE" in
24 point type;
(C) must be bordered or shaded in such a way, on the
three unbound sides with a border, that will distinguish the state
listings from the other listings;
(D) must be included in the directory at no cost to
the agency or official;
(E) must comply with the categorization developed by
the Records Management Interagency Coordinating Council. The categorization
must be available upon request from the Department of Information
Resources. The listings must be arranged in the following manner:
(i) alphabetically by subject matter of state agencies;
or
(ii) alphabetically by agency and public service name;
(F) must include the telephone number for state of
Texas government information: (512) 463-4630.
(c) Private for-profit publisher. Any private for-profit
publisher that publishes a residential telephone directory must include
in the directory a prominently displayed toll-free number and Internet
mail address, established by the commission, through which a person
may order a form to request to be placed on the Texas no-call list
in order to avoid unwanted telemarketing calls.
(d) Additional requirement for telecommunications utilities
or affiliates that publish telephone directories.
(1) A telecommunications utility or an affiliate of
that utility that publishes a business telephone directory that is
distributed to the public must publish a listing of each toll-free
and local telephone number of each elected official who represents
all or part of the geographical area for which the directory contains
listings.
(2) A telecommunications utility or an affiliate of
that utility that publishes and causes to be distributed to the public
a residential or business telephone directory must prominently list
in the directory the following information: "The Specialized Telecommunications
Assistance Program (STAP) provides financial assistance to help Texas
residents with disabilities purchase basic specialized equipment or
services needed to access the telephone network. For more information,
contact the Texas Department of Health and Human Services at (512)
438-4880. Hearing and speech-impaired individuals may contact the
Texas Department of Health and Human Services through Relay Texas
at 1-800-735-2989 or https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/deaf-hard-hearing/stap-services.
This program is open to all individuals who are residents of Texas
and have a disability."
(e) Requirements for telecommunications utilities found
to be dominant. This subsection applies to a telecommunications utility
found to be dominant as to local exchange telephone service or affiliate
of a telecommunications utility that publishes a directory on behalf
of the telecommunications utility.
(1) Annual publication. Telephone directories must
be published every calendar year. Except for customers who request
that information be unlisted, directories must list the names, addresses,
and telephone numbers of all customers receiving local phone service,
including customers of other certificated telecommunications utilities
(CTUs) in the geographic area covered by that directory. Numbers of
pay telephones need not be listed.
(2) Distribution. Upon issuance, a copy of each directory
must be distributed at no charge for each customer access line served
by the telecommunications utility in the geographic area covered by
that directory and, if requested, one extra copy per customer access
line must be provided at no charge. Notwithstanding any other law,
a telecommunications provider or telecommunications utility may publish
on its website a telephone directory or directory listing instead
of providing for general distribution to the public of printed directories
or listings. A provider or utility that publishes a telephone directory
or directory listing electronically must provide a print or digital
copy of the directory or listing to a customer on request. If a provider
or utility chooses to publish its telephone directory or directory
listings electronically, it must notify its customers that the first
print or digital copy requested by a customer in each calendar year
will be provided at no charge to the customer. A printed or digital
copy of each directory must be furnished to the commission. A telecommunications
utility must also distribute copies of directories in accordance with
any agreement reached with another CTU.
(3) Front cover requirements. The name of the telecommunications
utility, an indication of the area included in the directory, and
the month and the year of issue must appear on the front cover. Information
pertaining to emergency calls such as for the police and fire departments
must appear conspicuously in the front part of the directory pages.
(4) Required instructions. The directory must contain
instructions concerning:
(A) placing local and long distance calls on the network
of the telecommunications utility for which the directory is issued;
(B) calls to the telecommunications utility's repair
and directory assistance services, and locations; and
(C) telephone numbers of the business offices of the
telecommunications utility as may be appropriate to the area served
by the directory.
(5) Customer addresses. At the customer's election
the directory must list either the customer's street address, a post
office box number, or no address. A charge may be imposed upon those
customers who desire more than one address listing.
(f) References to other sections relating to directory
notification. The requirements of this section are in addition to
the requirements of the provisions referenced in paragraphs (1) -
(4) of this subsection, and other law.
(1) Section 26.29 of this title (relating to Prepaid
Local Telephone Service (PLTS)) concerning consumer education;
(2) Section 26.31 of this title (relating to Disclosures
to Applicants and Customers) concerning information to customers;
(3) Section 26.121 of this title (relating to Privacy
Issues) concerning notice of number delivery over 800, 888, and other
toll-free prefixes and 900 services;
(4) Section 26.130 of this title (relating to Selection
of Telecommunications Utilities) concerning notice of customer rights.
(g) Additional requirements. The following requirements
apply to telecommunications utilities found to be dominant as to local
exchange telephone service or its affiliate that publishes a directory
on behalf of such telecommunications utility.
Cont'd... |
