Preferred Carrier Freeze Authorization

In today's competitive telecommunications environment, a significant problem known as "slamming" has developed in which the telecommunications companies chosen by subscribers are changed without their consent. Previously, Choctaw Telephone Company attempted to verify all changes received before executing them. The Federal Communications Commission has now prohibited us from performing this service.

In order to minimize the expense and inconvenience which may result from "slamming", Choctaw Telephone Company offers its subscribers the additional protection of a "freeze" of their accounts. Subscribers may freeze the carrier providing any or all services, however the Federal Communications Commission Rules require a separate authorization for each service.

If you choose to order a Preferred Carrier Freeze, Choctaw will not change the carrier providing service without your direct authorization. This means that before you or anyone else changes your specified carrier, on of the following must occur:

1. You authorize Choctaw in writing to lift the freeze for the particular service, such as Interlata or Intralata long distance.
2. You orally request Choctaw to lift the freeze from the telephone number for which the change is to be made. This telephone call may be on a three-way conference call with the carrier to which you are changing the service. We will ask for identifying information during this call.

These actions are in addition to the verification procedures, which are required by the Federal Communications Commission for changing a preferred carrier.

In some circumstances, a long distance carrier may change your preferred carrier to or from another long distance company which resells the services of that carrier. Choctaw has no way of preventing these changes under the current FCC rules.

There is no charge for establishing a Preferred Carrier Freeze or for lifting the freeze. The charge for changing carriers is $10.00 per telephone number. In many cases, the new carrier may refund these charges.

To place a Preferred Carrier Freeze on your account, see the required form at this site or call or stop by our office.