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Frequently Asked Telephone
and Billing Questions |
1: Where is your office located?
2: How do I report a problem with my KCTC service?
3: What are capital credits?
4: What is a cooperative?
5: What is the procedure for changing my calling
features?
6: How do I change my long distance carrier?
7: What is KCTC's billing cycle?
8: Does KCTC offer vacation rates?
9: Does KCTC rent or sell telephones?
10: What is the "End User Charge"
on my KCTC phone bill?
11: When and how much is the "End User
Charge" increasing?
12: Why the increase and where does the money
go?
13: What is the Federal Universal Service
Charge (FUSC)?
14: What does the Wire Maintenance Contract
(WMC) do for me?
15: What long distance carrier is best for
me?
16: What is a Pic Freeze?
17: How do I know where my telephone wires
are located?
18: What are the local calling areas from
Kalona?
1: Where is your office located?
A: 510 B Ave. Downtown Kalona. Directly east of Hills Bank.
2: How do I report a problem with my KCTC
service?
A: KCTC customers may dial our office at: (319) 656-3668 for customer assistance,
or (319) 656-4444 after hours.
3: What are capital credits?
A: One of the benefits of being a cooperative member is that you are entitled
to receive a portion of the cooperative earnings. A patronage refund is a way
of distributing the cooperatives net income to its members. Patronage refunds
issued in the form of allocated surplus can only be retired, or paid to members,
upon approval of the board of directors. Each time a patronage distribution is
issued, the cooperative will notify eligible members of their refunds.
4: What is a cooperative?
A: “An organization owned collectively by members who share in its
benefits.” Kalona Cooperative Telephone Company was established by its members
to provide themselves with a vitally needed telecommunications service. This will
provide member’s economic and community standards and will also provide significant
long-range benefits and contributions both to the community and subscribers.
5: What is the procedure for changing my
calling features?
A: You would need to call KCTC or stop in and talk to a customer service
representative during regular business hours (M-F 8:00-4:30). Your calling features
will be updated the same day, if we are contacted before 3:30pm.
There is a $13.65 service charge for all updates made to an account at one
time. Click
here to find out more about the features KCTC has to offer or to subscribe
to a new feature.
6: How do I change my long distance carrier?
A: To change your long distance carrier, you need to first call your current
carrier, and make sure you are set up on a calling plan. It is important to set
up a calling plan, because if no calling plan is implemented then you will be
billed casual rates, which can be anywhere from 15-30 cents per minute, depending
on time and location. After your calling plan is set up, call KCTC at 656-3668.
Your long distance carrier will not be changed unless your local telephone office
is informed. Contact KCTC during regular business hours (M-F 8:00-4:30pm) to request
a long distance carrier change. When calling you need to have the 4-digit Carrier
Identification Code (CIC). There is an $11 switching fee to change to a carrier
other than KCTC. If changing to KCTC there is only a $5 switching fee and all
charges will be on the same bill. Click here
to see the long distance plans KCTC has to offer or to change your long distance
carrier.
7: What is KCTC's billing cycle?
A: KCTC bills are sent out on the first of each month and are due by
the 20th. Second notices are sent out on the twenty-first. A late fee charge
of 1.5% (of your total bill) is applied if payment is not received by the 20th.
8: Does KCTC offer vacation rates?
A: Yes, KCTC offers 50% off your telephone line rate and optional services
(reoccuring monthly charges) for the amount of time you specify.
9: Does KCTC rent or sell telephones?
A: Yes, you may rent a basic phone from KCTC for a low monthly charge of
$1.50. We also have a variety of phones you may purchase.
10: What is the "End User Charge"
on my KCTC phone bill?
A: "Commonly referred to as the "End User Access" charge
on your bill, this charge is part of the FCC's ongoing effort to promote a competitive
framework for the U.S. telecommunications industry." This fee is regulated
and capped by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), not by state public
utility commissions. It is not a tax or a fee charged by the government. The purpose
of the charge is to ensure that all Americans can afford at least a minimal level
of basic telephone service, regardless of a rural or urban location.
11: When and how much is the "End
User Charge" increasing?
A: "Effective July 1, 2002: The residential and single-line business
charge-SLC/End User Access- will increase to $6.00 per line.
12: Why the increase and where does the
money go?
A: "In its campaign to promote competition following passage of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC is attempting to rebalance telephone rates
and charges...by enacting the Telecom Act; Congress mandated that all cunsumers,
rural and urban, should be assured of similar access to comparable telecom services
at comparable rates." The Subscriber Line Charge covers a portion of the
costs of telephone lines connected to your home or place of business. These regulations
require local phone companies to lower their access charges to long distance phone
companies, and recover an increased portion of the costs of telephone line connections
directly from local service customers.
13: What is the Federal Universal Service
Charge (FUSC)?
A: The federal government has established national programs to support
the provision of telecommunications services to schools, libraries, rural health-care
providers, low-income customers, as well as customers living in rural, insular,
and high-cost areas.
As a result of recent judicial action and federal regulatory
response affecting the collection of funds supporting these programs, Kalona Co-op
Telephone Company charges a Federal Universal Service Charge (FUSC) on all customers.
The amount of the monthly surcharge will vary depending
upon your choice of telecommunications services and the number of telephone lines
you have. Generally, the surcharge will be applied per telephone line. However,
customers using dedicated interstate special-access circuits (for example, DSL
customers) will be assessed a percentage of their monthly interstate service amount.
14: What does the Wire Maintenance Contract
(WMC) do for me?
A: WMC is a service that insures any existing wiring in your home. All
wiring from the NID, or box outside your home, up to the interior jacks is covered.
Connected cords and equipment are not covered.
15: What long distance carrier is best
for me?
A: KCTC only bills long distance for AT&T and our own 2 Carriers. It
is best to pick a Long Distance plan that fits your needs. If you use a large
amount of long distance, look for a plan with a small monthly charge. If your
long distance usage is infrequent, then a plan with no monthly charge might work
better for you. These plans usually run about 14¢ to 15¢ a minute, depending
on carrier prices.
16: What is a Pic Freeze?
A: A Pic Freeze is similar to a security block for your long distance.
When you have a Pic Freeze, no carrier can change your long distance without your
permission. If you don't have a Pic Freeze on your account, any other long distance
carrier can change your long distance without notifying you.
17: How do I know where my telephone wires
are located?
A: Before digging in your yard, it is VERY important to have all your cables
located. Call Iowa One Call 1-800-292-8989 at least TWO days
before you dig. Click here for additional information.
18: What are the local calling areas
from Kalona?
A: When calling from Kalona, you can call Frytown, Joetown, Richmond, Hills,
Sharon Center, and Wellman locally.
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