WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission last week established rules that will
require long-distance carriers to disclose their rates on the Internet. The rules, however, will not apply to the wireless
industry.
The rules, which will not be effective until some related litigation is cleared up, require long-distance
carriers to make the rates, terms and conditions of their interstate, domestic long-distance service available to the public
in at least one location during regular business hours. Carriers that have an Internet web site must also post this
information in easy-to-understand language.
There had been some confusion that since wireless carriers offer long-
distance calling to their customers they also may fall under these rules but a source in the FCC’s Common Carrier
Bureau, which wrote the rules for the FCC, said that was not the case. “It is not our intention that this apply to
wireless,” said the official who declined to be named. The rules are still being edited but it is expected this will be
clarified when the rules are released, the official added.
