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How to satisfy your local calling needs
 
Your local phone service includes the ability to make toll-free calls within a predetermined local calling area. The size of the local calling area depends on where you live and who provides your service. It should be large enough to meet most of your routine calls. Since each customer has different needs, you may find you are making a lot of toll calls outside of your local calling area.

The UTC routinely receives requests for larger calling areas. Such requests are difficult to honor since they result in higher rates for all customers, while lowering the overall bill for those who are making the toll calls. To ensure fairness, the UTC has undergone two comprehensive reviews of the state’s local calling areas over the last 10 years. These reviews resulted in most Washington phone customers receiving larger local calling areas.

The UTC does not plan on conducting another review. The commission’s policy going forward is to rely on competition and other options to meet individual customer calling needs. Larger calling areas will be mandated only under the most exceptional circumstances.

This factsheet will help you: identify your options in meeting your local calling needs; understand why mandated larger calling areas in the future will be rare and determine whether and how to initiate a complaint with the UTC requesting a larger local calling area.

Options for meeting your local calling needs
There are ways to tailor your communications services to meet your specific calling needs. Here are just a few options to consider:

• Toll calling packages. Long-distance rates, especially for in-state long-distance calls, have declined dramatically in recent years. If high toll bills are a problem, you can save by getting a better long-distance deal. As a benchmark, you should pay no more than 10 cents a minute for most calls and many companies offer rates that are quite a bit lower. (Ask for our fact sheet on selecting a long-distance company)
• Work with your local telephone company. Your phone company may be willing to establish local calling services to better meet your requirements. For instance, it may offer an optional local calling plan that costs more per month, but provides a larger toll-free calling zone. If you are thinking of filing a complaint with the UTC about your local calling area, you will have to document in writing that your local telephone company has refused to voluntarily provide a reasonable solution to your calling needs.
• Alternative providers. Wireless companies offer a wide variety of calling packages, including packages with free toll or large local calling areas. Wireless service might not be economical as a replacement to your traditional phone service. However, if you are considering adding a second line or acquiring a mobile phone for other reasons, look at whether wireless telephone service would help to meet your calling needs.
• Site specific solutions. Determine where you are making most of your long-distance calls. If it is to a particular business or organization, you might encourage them to acquire a toll-free line. Another solution is a foreign exchange line which will connect your phone into a neighboring calling area.
  

Why expanding local calling areas is the last option
Larger local calling areas make it harder for customers to benefit from competition. Competition drives down prices for toll calls, wireless phone service and other alternatives. Those savings benefit customers directly. In contrast,when calling areas are expanded, the local telephone company usually replaces the lost toll income by raising the rate of your local phone service--where you likely do not experience the benefits of competition. Paying more for a monopoly phone service in order to pay less for long-distance which is competitively priced only makes sense in the most exceptional circumstances.

Reviewing your local calling area
If you still think your community should have a larger local calling area. Conduct a review. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Are your children’s schools within your local calling area?
• Are your most significant city or town services within your local calling area?
• Can you reach fire, police, medical and other emergency services with a local call?
• Does your local calling area include a commercial center?

These questions outline what the UTC considers to be the basic calling needs of a household. If you answer “no” to one or more of these questions, look into whether the “no” applies to only a handful of people or more broadly through your community. For instance, you might need to make a toll call to your preferred physician or your favorite store but others in your community might use health care facilities and businesses located within the local calling area.

The UTC only will consider expanding local calling areas under the most exceptional circumstances.

Filing a formal complaint for a larger calling area
You could file a complaint against your local phone company, alleging that it is in violation of commission rules regarding local calling areas. To be successful in your complaint, you will need to demonstrate that your local phone company has refused to offer other local calling options and that your circumstances are exceptional enough to justify a mandated larger calling area.

Formal complaints are legal documents. They do not have to be prepared by an attorney. Your complaint should be clear and accurate. Your facts must support your allegations and should demonstrate the exceptional circumstances that justify a larger local calling area. You should include copies of any relevant correspondence, including any responses from your local telephone company to your specific request for larger calling areas and local calling option plans. Your name and address and the name and address of your attorney, if you employ one, must be on the complaint.

You should become familiar with the UTC rule governing local calling areas (see section below) as well as any other relevant statutes or UTC rules. The legal rules covering formal complaints can be found in RCW 80.04.110 and Chapter 480-09 WAC. Other provisions of law may also be relevant to your complaint.

Even though an attorney is not required to file a complaint, you may wish to consult legal counsel to ensure you have considered all available options. If not represented by an attorney, you must include a statement that the document (pleading) is true and correct to the best of the signer’s belief. UTC staff are not allowed to provide legal advice to the public.

UTC rules governing local calling areas
This is the state policy governing local calling areas:

WAC 480-120-045 Local calling areas.

1. The commission may expand local calling areas only under the most exceptional circumstances. The commission will generally rely on long distance competition, local competition, and optional calling plans that assess additional charges only to participating customers to meet customer demand for alternate or expanded calling.
2. In evaluating requests for expanded local calling, the commission will consider whether the local calling area is adequate to allow customers to call and receive calls from the following community services: Community medical facilities, police and fire departments, city or town governments, elementary and secondary schools, libraries, and a commercial center. In evaluating such requests, the commission will consider the overall community of interest of the entire exchange, and may consider other pertinent factors such as customer calling patterns, the availability and feasibility of optional calling plans, and the level of local and long distance competition.
3. Requests for expanded local calling areas shall be made pursuant to RCW 80.04.110 (the commission’s complaint statute).

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