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2009 Residential Services Available
This information is provided by Sierra Telephone as required by the
Residence Service - Plus Taxes and Surcharges The residence monthly service rates are based on Flat Rate Service, which includes unlimited calling within your local service area. Throughout the entire serving area, our network provides services such as single party service with voice grade access to the public switched network utilizing modern signaling technology, as well as toll blocking, access to Emergency 9-1-1 Service, Operator Services, Directory Assistance, and a variety of Interexchange or Long Distance Toll Service Providers.
* Refer to web site: www.neca.org, choose "Member Services" then "Tariff 5".
When you order new service or request changes in your existing service, you are charged only for the specific work that actually is done. The amount is determined by the type of work completed. Service Order Charge (processing your order):
If some of these steps are not necessary, you will not be charged for them. Your Customer Service Representative can tell you what your maximum charges will be when you place an order for service. 4-Hour Appointment Notice Whenever a contract for service or repair is entered into between Sierra Telephone and a customer, and the parties have agreed that the presence of the customer is required at the time of service or repair, Sierra Telephone shall specify, prior to the date of service or repair, a four-hour period within which the work shall commence.
Customer Service Representatives may be contacted for additional details on any of the previously described services during our business hours at the locations and telephone numbers listed on the first page.
Sierra Telephone provides discounted monthly service rates and free The California LifeLine Telephone Program provides discounted home phone service to qualified households. California LifeLine is available to all Sierra Telephone RESIDENTIAL customers who meet the following eligibility rules and successfully complete the California LifeLine application process:
If you qualify and successfully complete the California LifeLine application process, the California LifeLine benefits are:
Qualifications and application requirements for eligible residents of tribal lands are listed HERE, or on page 6 of the 2009 Sierra Telephone Annual Notice mailed to all customers. Method 1 Program-Based: You qualify for California LifeLine if at least one member of your household is enrolled in any one of the following public-assistance programs::
Method 2 Income-Based You qualify for California LifeLine if your total household income is at or less than the California LifeLine income maximums:
Income documentation is required if a household chooses to qualify via Method 2 Income-Based. Household income can include but is not limited to: wages, salaries, interest, dividends, spousal support and child support, grants, gifts, allowances, stipends, public-assistance payments, social security and pensions, rental income, income from self-employment and cash payments from other sources, and all employment-related, non-cash income. NOTE: Borrowed money or funds transferred from one account to another, such as from savings account to a checking account, shall not be considered as part of total household income for the purpose of determining eligibility for California LifeLine. Acceptable income documents are:
EXISTING CALIFORNIA LIFELINE CUSTOMERS: Eligibility Audit:
Federal Enhanced Lifeline and Expanded Link-Up BENEFITS:
Federal Enhanced LifeLine and Expanded Link Up Benefits Qualifications: Federal Enhanced Lifeline and Expanded Link Up program qualification standards apply to RESIDENTIAL services for eligible residents of tribal lands, as defined by the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 47 CFR §54.400(e). The eligible resident of tribal lands must also meet the eligibility rules established for this program.Federal Enhanced LifeLine and Expanded Link Up CERTIFICATION: Residents of tribal lands who qualify must provide a written certification of such qualification under penalty of perjury and must further agree to notify Sierra Telephone if they cease to meet the qualifications for Federal Enhanced Lifeline and Expanded Link Up program benefits.If you are an eligible resident of tribal lands and want to request a Resident of Tribal Land Certification form or if you would like further information regarding this service, please contact your Sierra Telephone Business Office at 559-683-4611 for the Oakhurst Business Office, at 209-966-3636 for the Mariposa Business Office, or Toll Free at 1-877-658-4611
Sierra Telephone automatically provides a free Directory Listing, which includes your name, address, and telephone number listed alphabetically in the white pages of the Sierra Telephone Directory and with Local Directory Assistance.
The following Custom Calling Features are available on single party lines. Custom Calling Packages are available for as little as $4.75 per Month. Distinctive Ring: $6.00 per month – Provides two separate telephone numbers on a line. Each telephone number has a distinctive ringing pattern. A published or non-published directory listing is provided for each number. Toll Blocking: $2.50 per month – Is available to individual line services, where facilities are available. This feature restricts access to the long distance toll network (all Dial 1+ numbers) thereby allowing calls only to the local exchange areas. Call Waiting/ With Cancel Call Waiting: $3.75 per month – Lets you know someone else is calling when you are using the telephone. Also enables you to cancel Call Waiting for the duration of one call. Call Forwarding: $1.75 per month – Enables you to transfer your incoming calls to any telephone you can dial direct without Operator Assistance. Other variations of Call Forwarding are available. Please call our Business Office for more details. Speed Calling: Eight code list – $2.75 per month – Allows you to call up to eight frequently called numbers by dialing one digit. Subscriber Activated Call Blocking: $2.50 per month – Lets you activate and deactivate access to all Dial 1+ numbers on your telephone by use of a dialed code and Utility assigned Personal Identification Number (PIN). Calls to 9-1-1 emergency services and the local exchange area are not blocked. Three-Way Calling: $3.75 per month – Lets you add a third party to your existing conversation without Operator Assistance.
Toll Restriction: $2.50 per month – is available to individual line services, where facilities are available. This feature restricts access to the long distance toll network (all Dial 1+ numbers) thereby allowing calls only to local exchange areas.
The following Advanced Custom Calling Features are available on single party lines. Caller ID: $6.50 per month – This service allows you to identify the telephone number of the calling party. A Caller ID display unit must be purchased separately. Calling Name and Number: $7.95 per month – This service allows you to identify the name and telephone number of the calling party. A Caller ID display unit must be purchased separately. Call Return: $3.40 per month – You can automatically call back the last number that called you. Repeat Dialing: $3.40 per month – Automatically checks a busy number for you for up to 30 minutes and alerts you with a distinctive ring when the line becomes free. Anonymous Call Rejection: $1.25 per month – Allows you to choose to reject calls from callers who are using a blocking option to prevent display of their telephone number. Selective Call Rejection: $3.00 per month – You can create and/or modify a list of up to 12 telephone numbers you do not wish to receive calls from. Usage Sensitive Advanced Custom Calling Services: Call Trace: $4.90* per activation – Automatically requests Sierra Telephone to record a caller’s originating telephone number. The traced number will only be released to the law enforcement agency handling the harassment complaint. *A maximum of five traces ($24.50) to any number during a billing period will be charged.
Voice Mail records and stores voice messages for playback at a later time. The following voice mail services are available: Economy Voice Mailbox $4.95 per month – Twenty two-minute voice messages can be saved for a maximum of fourteen days. Greeting Only Voice Mailbox $3.95 per month – Caller receives a voice message (maximum four minutes in length). No message from the caller can be recorded. Select Voice Mailbox $9.95 per month – Thirty three-minute voice messages can be saved for a maximum of thirty days. Tree Only Voice Mailbox $3.95 per month – Consists of a routing mailbox and multiple individual mailboxes. Caller receives a voice message (maximum four minutes in length). Optional Individual Features Available with Voice Mailboxes: Daily Notification $2.00 per month – Allows a customer to program a telephone number and time for the system to notify them they have received new messages. E-Forward™ $3.00 per month – E-Forward™ is an optional method of message delivery which allow customers to receive incoming voice mail messages via their designated e-mail account. This option provides added convenience to customers by making their messages available wherever the customer can access their e-mail. Multiple Associated Numbers: $2.00 per month – Allows up to nine telephone numbers to share the same voice mailbox. Multiple Greetings $2.00 per month – Allows the customer to record up to ten different greetings and to select the active greeting. Multiple Number Notification $2.00 per month – Allows the customer to assign up to five telephone numbers to their voice mailbox. These telephone numbers will have their message waiting indicator (stutter dial tone or indicator light, if equipped) activated when the mailbox receives a new message. Optional Feature Packages Available with Voice Mailboxes: Enhanced Paging Package $3.00 per month – Includes two features: Pager Notification and Sequential Paging. The Pager Notification feature provides a signal to a specific pager unit that a message is in the mailbox. The customer can enable and disable Pager Notification from the mailbox. The Sequential Paging feature allows the customer to configure the service to attempt to notify a series of phone numbers of new messages. When the pager type to notify is set to Sequential, the service will attempt to notify each number on the list sequentially. Plus Package $4.00 per month – Includes four optional features: Multiple Greetings, Multiple Associated Numbers, Multiple Number Notification, and Daily Notification.
Basic Package: $24.70 per month, In addition, the following monthly charges are applicable for each ISDN-BRI Service**:
Monthly rates shown above do not include taxes and surcharges, equipment rental or any optional services, e.g., Custom Calling Service Features or Voice Mail Service. ** see www.neca.org NECA Filings - Tariff 5
When you call our Repair Service at 6-1-1, the service personnel will help you isolate and identify your telephone problem to affect a solution without incurring unnecessary costs.
Limited Service is provided by Sierra Telephone at no charge to residential locations where there has been previous telephone service and it is permissable with existing technology and facilities. It is also provided to a new resident location where there is an outside network interface, known as a Minimum Point of Entry (MPOE), and inside jacks have been wired to the MPOE.
The Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) is a California State mandated program established by California Public Utilities Commission and has two components: the California Relay Service (CRS), and the California Telephone Access Program (CTAP). CRS helps establish a communications link for a hearing or speech-impaired person to communicate with all other telephone users. Features of the Relay Service include:
To make calls, the hearing or speech impaired caller will use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD/TTY), which resembles a portable typewriter. The service will relay the caller’s typed messages through specially trained personnel who will handle the calls. The system also works in reverse, allowing a person without a TDD/TTY to call a person who uses a TDD/TTY. To access the Relay Service dial 7-1-1, or for additional information: 
CTAP Products and Services: CTAP provides products and services to all customers that have difficulty using the telephone due to a disability. Certain Sierra Telephone services may also qualify for CTAP such as Speed Dial 8, Speed Dial 30, Three-way calling, Operator Assisted Dialing and Directory Assistance Exemption. These products and services are provided to certified, disabled users at no additional charge over the normal monthly rate for telephone service. For product and service information call the CTAP program at 1-800-806-1191 (voice) or TDD/TTY at 1-800-806-4474, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sierra Telephone currently offers automatic telephone number referral service for customers who have requested that their service be either disconnected or changed. The standard referral period is 90 days for residence service. Extended referral service beyond the standard referral period can be provided for residence service for $5.00 per month.
Intra Local Access Transport Area (LATA) or Service Area Toll Calls IntraLATA service area toll calls are calls between any two points in the Fresno Service Area other than local calls. Sierra Telephone does not handle intraLATA service area toll calling within the Fresno Service Area. InterLATA or Interstate Long Distance Toll Calls InterLATA or interstate long distance toll calls are calls between service areas or to other states and countries. Sierra Telephone does not handle interLATA or interstate long distance calling within or between service areas or to other states and countries. Carrier Selection for Equal Access Service You may select an Interexchange Carrier (IXC) or Long Distance Company of your choice to handle your intraLATA service area toll calls and interLATA or interstate long distance toll calls by pre-subscribing to that IXC. This service, known as "Equal Access", allows you to make long distance calls without requiring you to dial a series of access numbers. When you change your selection, the following charges apply: Interexchange Carrier (IXC) Selection Charges
If you do not select an Interexchange Carrier you may only place long distance calls using casual dialing. Casual Dialing You may use more than one Interexchange Carrier (IXC) or Long Distance Company to handle your intraLATA service area toll calls and interLATA or interstate long distance toll calls. These calls can be placed on a per-call basis with another IXC by using company-code dialing or Casual Dialing. This is done by dialing 1 + 0 + 1, that company’s 4-digit company code, followed by the area code and the phone number you wish to call. It may be necessary to make arrangements with some companies prior to using their company code. If you do not dial a company code, your pre-subscribed IXC will handle the call.
900 or California 976 (976) service is a class of information-access telephone service with recorded commercial, informational, or public service messages, interactive computer programs, and other services provided for a charge to the person calling. 900/976 PAY-PER-CALL BILLING RIGHTS STATEMENT You have the right not to be billed for pay-per-call services not offered in compliance with Federal laws and regulations. Examples of billing errors include (but are not limited to):
You have the right to withhold payment for the disputed charges during the billing error review. No collection activity for disputed 900/976 charges will occur while the charges are under investigation. If the disputed 900/976 charges are found to be legitimate, the long distance company or the information provider may proceed with outside collections against your account for payment of these 900/976 charges. You may obtain the name, address, and telephone number of any information provider upon request at no cost by calling our Business Office. IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION REGARDING 800 AND 900 TELEPHONE NUMBERS-YOUR NUMBER MAY BE DISCLOSED When you call toll free telephone numbers such as 800, 855, 866, 877, and 888 numbers, or call chargeable 900/976 service telephone numbers, your number could be disclosed to the party you are calling and could be recorded in a database sold to telemarketers. Attorney General’s Office You may also contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at: Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) www.fcc.gov/cgb/ You may register for the National Do Not Call List by calling the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-888-382-1222 (voice), or TDD/TTY at 1-866-290-4236, or by accessing the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry web site at:
IMPORTANT PRIVACY INFORMATION: Any telephone from which you place a call will automatically transmit its number to the person you are calling. Those subscribing to a service known as "Caller ID" will be able to see your telephone number before they answer their phone. It is important to note that the law guarantees you the right to decide who receives your telephone number. We also believe you should be able to choose how you would like to have your phone number blocked - your privacy is paramount. That's why the law requires FREE blocking services that give you the freedom to chose when, how, and if your number will be shown to those you call. Complete Blocking - Complete blocking is a FREE service that gives you permanent control over the transmission of your telephone number. Complete Blocking blocks the transmission of your telephone number on the calls you place, unless you specify otherwise. There is no need to enter a code before making each call. Those with Caller ID units who receive your calls will see the word PRIVATE displayed. Calls to those with Anonymous Call Rejection will receive an announcement informing the caller that the called party will not accept calls from callers who have chosen to block display of their telephone number. You may deactivate Complete Blocking on specific calls by pressing *82 on your touch calling telephone before you dial (or dialing 1182 on a rotary telephone). Selective Blocking - Selective Blocking is a FREE service that blocks your telephone number from being transmitted and/or seen on Caller ID units on a per call basis. By simply pressing *67 on your touch calling telephone (or dialing 1167 on a rotary telephone) before placing a call, your telephone number will not be transmitted. Those with Caller ID units who receive your call will see the word PRIVATE displayed. Calls to those with Anonymous Call Rejection will receive an announcement informing the caller that the called party will not accept calls from callers who have chosen to block display of their telephone number. If you do not select a blocking option, you will be assigned Selective Blocking. Important note: Caller ID blocking may not work on interstate calls. Also, you cannot block transmission of your telephone number for calls to 9-1-1, 800, 888, 866, 877, or 900 service, regardless of the blocking option you choose. If, for some reason, you want to report an emergency without having your number displayed, you should call the agency's seven-digit number instead of 9-1-1. If the number you are calling from is not equipped with Complete Blocking, you will need to press *67 (or 1167 on a rotary telephone) before you dial the agency's number in order to block your number from being shown. If you have any questions about your choices or the effect any of these services may have upon you and your privacy, please call our Business Office. California Public Utilities Commission
Help protect against unsolicited telephone marketing calls and faxes! State Law (Assembly Bill 2134), effective January 1, 1999, requires Sierra Telephone to inform our customers that various governmental agencies publish information that generally describes telephone customers’ rights under state and federal law. Please contact the following agencies for additional information: “Straight Talk About Telemarketing” Write: Federal Trade Commission Telephone: Voice 1-877-382-4357 Internet: National Consumers League’s Fraud Center The National Consumers League’s Fraud Center is operated by the National Consumers League which is a private, non-profit organization that maintains a consumer website to provide services and assistance in filing telemarketing and Internet fraud complaints. It sends information reported by individuals about suspected telemarketing and Internet scams to the appropriate local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Internet: Attorney General’s Office Write: P. O. Box 944255 Telephone: Voice 1-800-952-5225 Internet:
www.ag.ca.gov/contact.php What You Can Do About Unsolicited Telephone Marketing Calls and Faxes Write: Federal Communications Commission Telephone: Voice 1-888-225-5322 (voice) The FCC has a specific complaint form for Telemarketing, Junk Fax, and E-mail Messaging complaints on their website at the updated link listed below. It is FCC Form 1088. You may download/print and mail or fax the form to the FCC. Internet:
www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/tcpa.html E-mail the complaint form to: fccinfo@fcc.gov
Send the complaint form by fax to:
Senate Bill 841, passed by the California Legislature, requires us to inform you of Sierra Telephone’s policy on Inside Wire. You should be aware that, under state law, residential landlords, not tenants, are responsible for repairs and maintenance of residential inside telephone wire. Inside Wire Definition: Inside Wire is that portion of the telephone wire which connects the telephone jack at the customer’s premises to the Telephone Company’s equipment at a demarcation point determined by the Telephone Company in accordance with orders of the California Public Utilities Commission. In almost all cases, Sierra Telephone uses a lockable Standard Network Interface as its demarcation point. Responsibilities of the Building Owner: Inside wire is considered the property of the building owner. If the building owner is a residential landlord, the building owner is responsible for installing at least one usable telephone jack per rental unit, for placing and maintaining the inside wire in good working order, for ensuring that the inside wire meets the applicable standards of the most recent Electrical Code as adopted by the Electronic Industry Association, and for making any required repairs to the inside telephone wire. Responsibilities of Sierra Telephone: Sierra Telephone is available to maintain or repair inside wire, and will work with the customer to determine whether a malfunction in a telephone line is located in the customer’s inside wire or in the Telephone Company’s network. Sierra Telephone will inform the customer of the repair options once it is determined that the customer’s inside wire is at fault. You may refer to the Premises Visit Inside Wire Labor Charges on page 21 for information related to costs for repair of inside wire. Responsibilities of the Customer: The customer is responsible for reporting malfunctions of the telephone line to the Telephone Company. Telephone repair reports may be made to Sierra Telephone by dialing 6-1-1. Upon receiving a customer’s trouble report, Sierra Telephone’s service personnel will request that the customer perform a simple isolation test of the inside wire at the Standard Network Interface. Trouble Isolation Procedures:
SIERRA TELEPHONE OFFERS TWO OPTIONS 1. Inside Wire Maintenance Plan Customers who subscribe to this plan are charged monthly for trouble isolation and repair of inside wire and/or jacks within the customer’s premises. The Inside Wire Maintenance Plan provides all required maintenance of simple inside wiring and materials at no additional charge.
Inside Wire Maintenance Plan  2. Premises Visit Inside Wire Labor Charges Provides incremental rates for inside wire maintenance services requested on simple inside wiring and materials without the benefit of the Inside Wire Maintenance Plan, on a per visit basis.
OTHER VENDORS MAY ALSO OFFER INSIDE WIRE SERVICES Other vendors may also offer inside wire service in Sierra Telephone’s service area. Please consult the classified ads in your local newspaper or your Sierra Telephone Directory for this information.
The FCC has designated 8-1-1 as the national, toll-free number for the general public and excavators to call to provide advanced notice of excavation activities to help reduce the occurrence of damage to underground facilities during excavation. Dial 8-1-1 to reach the underground utility cable locating service for Northern and Central California. Please Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 9-1-1 When there is a situation that threatens human life or property and demands immediate attention, call 9-1-1. 9-1-1 will reach the fire and rescue, police, Sheriff, Highway Patrol, ambulance, paramedics, Coast Guard, and/or search and rescue. Do not call 9-1-1 for non-emergencies. This causes delays in the handling of real emergencies. For non-emergency calls, call the non-emergency telephone numbers listed in the Sierra Telephone Directory for the agencies you are trying to reach. For Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD/TTY) emergency calls that use the Baudot mode, dial 9-1-1 then tap the space bar until someone answers. When calling 9-1-1, your telephone number and address may be displayed on a dispatcher’s viewing screen, even if you have Caller ID Blocking. This enables the emergency agency to locate you if the call is interrupted. If, for some reason, you want to report an emergency without having your number displayed, you should call the agency’s seven-digit number instead of 9-1-1. If the number you are calling from is not equipped with Complete Blocking, you will need to press *67 (or 1167 on a rotary telephone) before you dial the agency’s number in order to block your number from being shown. Place Emergency Calls Only After a disaster, especially earthquakes, there is usually a high volume of telephone calls. It is important that you limit your calls to emergencies only. Do not call 9-1-1 or the police for confirmation of an earthquake. Listen to your local radio or television station for information. If you need to place an emergency call:
Out-of-Area Contact Select a relative or friend out of the immediate area to act as a clearinghouse for information about your family. Once contact is made, have this person relay messages to your other friends and relatives outside the disaster area. Additional emergency information is located in your Sierra Telephone Directory in the Telephone Service Information Section on pages 16 and 17. Emergency preparedness information is located in your Sierra Telephone Directory on page 72.
Should you have a question or complaint about your service or billing, please request an explanation from Sierra Telephone. If you do not receive a satisfactory response, you may call the Consumer Affairs Branch of the California Public Utilities Commission's call back number for assistance: Monday thru Friday California Public Utilities Commission Make remittance payable to California Public Utilities Commission and attach the bill and a statement supporting your belief that the bill is not correct. The Commission will review the basis of the billed amount and make disbursement in accordance with its findings. Consumer and Government Affairs Bureau (CGB)
ONLINE BILL PAYMENT (eBill) View your bill online or view and pay your bill online HERE. You may make one-time payments, or set up monthly automatic payments by eCheck. CASH or CHECK Drive-through drop boxes are located in front of both Sierra Telephone Business Offices. Payments may also be placed in the business office drop box, made in person, or by mail. During regular business hours, you may pay your bill by telephone by calling one of the Sierra Telephone Business Offices and using an authorized checking account to pay by eCheck. eCHECK An eCheck is the electronic version or representation of a paper check and works the same way a check does. An eCheck has the same characteristics of paper checks, but in all-electronic form. eChecks contain the same information as paper checks and are based on the same legal framework as paper checks. eChecks can be used in any and all remote transactions where paper checks are used today. You do not have to have an eBill account or e-mail address account to utilize an eCheck. Payment by eCheck may be made by contacting a Customer Service Representative over the telephone, during normal business hours. CREDIT CARD Use ATM debit, charge to VISA, MasterCard, or Discover/Novus. During regular business hours, you may pay your bill by telephone by calling one of the Sierra Telephone Business Offices and using an authorized credit card. AUTO CREDIT CARD Payment is automatically charged to your credit card each month. AUTOMATED CLEARING HOUSE (ACH)/AUTO DEBIT Payment is automatically debited from your checking account each month.
Business Offices Oakhurst 49150 Crane Valley Road – Road 426 Monday – Friday Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 559-683-4611 or toll free – 1-877-658-4611 Mariposa 5108 Highway 140, Suite B Monday – Friday Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 209-966-3636 or toll free – 1-877-658-4611 Drive through payment drop boxes are located in front of both Sierra Telephone Business Offices. Saturdays – Oakhurst 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A Sierra Telephone Customer Service Representative is available 559-642-4611 Visit our website click here. Repair Service
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The local service area for customers served from the Coarsegold/Oakhurst Exchange (prefixes 641, 642, 658, 683, and 692) includes prefixes 641, 642, 658, 683, 689, 692, 868, and 877 (Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, Fish Camp, North Fork, Oakhurst, O’Neals, and Raymond areas).
Bring technology right into your home. This digital service allows voice and data to travel simultaneously over a single telephone wire. ISDN - Basic Rate Interface (BRI) Service increases performance for on-line services such as the Internet and enhances telecommuting.