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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><b><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;color:#1F497D;font-weight:bold'>Maryland</span></font></b></st1:place></st1:State><b><font
color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D;font-weight:bold'> Office of
People’s Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold'>ALERT<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold'>Verizon Reduces Free Directory Assistance Calls from 4 to 2
Calls<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><font size=2
color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold'>Effective October 16, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><u><font size=2
color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D;
font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'>Verizon <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maryland</st1:place></st1:State>
has reduced the number of free directory assistance calls from 4 to 2 calls per
month effective October 16, 2013 for landline (wired) telephone service. </span></font><b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Each directory assistance call above 2 calls per month
will cost $1.99 per call. </span></b>This change may impact your clients,
including Lifeline customers, if they rely on landline service and 411
Directory Assistance from Verizon.<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The
Company took this action after a new law went into effect on October 1, 2013
permitting Verizon to do this and preventing the Commission from denying the
call reduction. The law was passed after OPC successfully opposed this
change in two cases heard by the Public Service Commission.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'>OPC had opposed this change for a simple reason.
Even in this age of smart phones and broadband access, adults who are older or
with lower incomes will be disproportionately impacted by this bill, since they
are more likely than other adults to rely on landline phones and have the need
for directory assistance. They will now be subject to additional expenses if
they make more than two calls per month.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:10.0pt'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'>These are some options for customers to obtain free
Directory Assistance information:</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=2 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Internet: <a
href="http://www.verizon.com/white">www.verizon.com/white</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
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style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Hard copy residential
directory: Call 800-888-8448 to obtain a paper or CD-ROM version of the
white pages.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
10.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
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style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Physical or visual
disabilities: Verizon cannot charge for directory assistance when these
disabilities prevent a customer from using a telephone directory. If a
customer has such disabilities, she should contact Verizon to get this
restriction in the customer’s record.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:
10.0pt;margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If
the customer with disabilities does not get a satisfactory response from
Verizon, she should contact the Public Service Commission to make a complaint
at 800-735-0474 or 800-735-2258 (TTY/Voice).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>OPC
also recommends that cell phone users without data plans should check their
cell phone plans for the cost of directory assistance calls charged by their
cell phone providers. </span></font><font size=3><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Yasmin Reyazuddin <br>
Aging & Disability Services <br>
Montgomery County Government <br>
Department of Health & Human Services <br>
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor) <br>
Rockville MD 20850 <br>
240-777-0311 (MC311) <br>
240-777-1556 (personal) <br>
240-777-1495 (fax) <br>
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm <br>
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>This message may contain protected health
information or other information that is confidential or privileged. If you are
not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and
destroy any copies of this material. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:black'>Thank you.</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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