What is Jamming?
Jamming is the illegal practice by a monopoly local phone company of preventing its customers from freely choosing a competing carrier for local toll service by placing an unauthorized PIC (Primary Interexchange Carrier) freeze on their account.
What is PIC Freeze?
PIC Freeze is an arrangement between a customer and the local phone company to prevent any unauthorized changing of their long distance telephone service. To set up a PIC Freeze, you need to provide the local carrier with a written or electronic authorization to implement the freeze. When you want to select another carrier you will need to provide a written authorization or your oral authorization. The local carrier should allow this on a three-way call with your new preferred carrier.
Background:
Consumers are regularly warned of slamming, spamming and cramming. Now long distance companies and consumer advocates are taking action and alerting consumers to a new illegal phone practice known as "jamming." Jamming results when a monopoly phone company illegally places a PIC freeze on a customers local toll service account, preventing choice of an alternative carrier.
Many consumers have chosen to establish a PIC freeze on their account as a way to prevent the unauthorized switching of their long distance carriers. Some local phone monopolies are taking that process a step too far by applying freezes to many customers' local toll account, whether they want it or not. As a result, customers are "jammed" and prevented from selecting a carrier other than the incumbent as their local toll provider. As more states convert to 1+ dialing for local toll calls, jamming is likely to increase. In addition to being anti-competitive and anti-consumer, this practice prevents customers from enjoying the cost savings that result from competition among service providers.
What Should Consumers Do?
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Determine Your Options Right now, many consumers are unaware that they may have the option of choosing an alternative provider for their local toll service.
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Understand Your Rights Consumers have the right to choose their long-distance provider, and, in many cases, their local toll provider. They also have the right to protect those choices by establishing a PIC freeze on their account. A PIC freeze is initiated by the customer, not the carrier. If used, a PIC freeze requires electronic confirmation or written notice of a decision to change carriers.
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Check Your Account Consumers should regularly check their accounts to make sure the local phone company has not illegally placed a PIC freeze on their local toll service account. If an illegal freeze has been placed on the account, consumers must notify the state commission regulating telecommunications services. They must also request that it be removed.