- Introduced -

SB 858 - This act provides that the Community Optional Service (COS) calling plan shall continue. The current COS plan is scheduled to terminate on March 31, 1998 pursuant to an order of the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Community Optional Service is an optional expanded calling plan which sets a flat rate for two-way unlimited calling between certain qualified exchanges and their target exchanges. The plan is available, upon request, to any subscriber in a qualified exchange from the incumbent local exchange telecommunications company.

The act will continue the plans in effect on Jan. 1, 1998 at the existing rates. Plans may only be discontinued if the PSC finds that competition exists, based upon another similar plan offered at no more than twice the cost. Current rates vary for residential and business customers and based upon whether or not the target exchange is in a metropolitan exchange.

A qualified exchange shall meet a "community of interest" standard as provided in the act and based upon call frequencies from the petitioning exchange to the target exchange.

OTTO FAJEN