Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!ria!uwovax.uwo.ca!telecom-request From: brian@ucsd.edu (Brian Kantor) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: The FCC and 900 Numbers Message-ID: Date: 16 Mar 91 06:07:21 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 14 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 209, Message 3 of 11 In the news today there was mention that the FCC is proposing a rule that 900 numbers must announce the cost of the call at the beginning of the connection and allow the caller to disconnect then without being billed. I think that's a wonderful idea, and would suggest that the ruling be such that the TELEPHONE COMPANY handling the 900 call should provide that automatically - they can do it, since they already have the voice intercept equipment, and since they're doing the billing, they also know what the charges would be. By having the telco do the announcement, there'd be no chance for a sleazeball 900 service operator to collect money without the announcement in disregard of the law. Brian