CCC   PPPPP   U    U    CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W  W  W   SSS
 C   C  P    p  U    U   C   C      NN   N  E      W  W  W  S   S
C       P    P  U    U  C           N N  N  E      W  W  W  S
C       PPPPP   U    U  C           N N  N  EEE    W W W W   SSS
C       P       U    U  C           N  N N  E      WW   WW      S
 C   C  P       U    U   C   C      N   NN  E      W     W  S   S
  CCC   P        UUUU     CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W     W   SSS

CONTACT: Kyle DeVine              October 25, 1996   CPUC - 552
         213-897-4225                             (R.95-04-043)

  CPUC CHANGES TELECOMMUNICATIONS CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION RULES

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today
adopted the modified non-English speaking customer notification
rules that were specified for competing local carriers (CLC)
which compete against Pacific Bell, General Telephone of
California (GTEC) and other local service providers.
    The rules, which were set-up by the CPUC in July 1995, and
further expanded in February 1996, specified that the CLCs must
send confirming letters explaining the service on all sales in
a language the consumer is familiar with if the consumer is
non-English speaking.  The changes today ease that requirement,
directing them to send a notice explaining the service when the
consumer signs up for service and then a notice will be sent
once a year explaining the service.
    The rules were also changed from requiring the CLCs to send
notices in any language to sending them in one of the seven
most common non-English languages spoken in California which
are:  Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean,
Japanese, or Tagalog.  These languages along with English cover
94 percent of the customers in California.
    The changes result from an agreement between the CLCs and
Public Advocates - a consumer group.  The rules were modified
because the CLCs do not have the resources or financing to
provide notices or bills in any language and everytime service
is changed.
    While Pacific Bell and GTEC do provide certain multi-
lingual services, they are not required at this time to follow
these rules, but the Commission is evaluating whether and to
what extent they should.

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