CC Resolution No. 99-102RESOLUTION NO. 99-102
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO
OPPOSING PACIFIC BELL'S 411 RATE INCREASE
WHEREAS, SBC/Pac Bell has applied to the Califomia Public Utilities Commission for
permission to increase the charge of a local directory assistance call from $0.25 to $1.10. This is
a 340 percent increase. In addition, SBC/Pac Bell is asking to raise the rate of an emergency
break-through call from $1.00 to $5.00, and
WHEREAS, public safety agencies, such as police, fire, and paramedic services,
frequently use local directory assistance and emergency interrupt services, and this would create
a tremendous financial burden for these government agencies, and
WHEREAS, the affect of these increases would dramatically impact the elderly, those
with physical disabilities and low income households and only those with physical disabilities
that file an exemption with SBC/Pac Bell, would be exempted, and
WHEREAS, SBC/Pac Bell controls over 97 percent of the local service market it serves,
and
WHEREAS, unlike long distance information services, by virtue of SBC/Pac Bell's
monopoly, there is no competitor that has as accurate and up-to-date information as SBC/Pac
Bell, and
WHEREAS, most consumers associate local directory assistance with the number 411
and not any other dial-around number, and
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City Council of the City of Cupertino strongly
opposes SBC/Pac Bell's application for these excessive rate increases. The City Council
furthermore encourages SBC/Pac Bell to withdraw its application until a time when consumers
have a competitive choice for their local services.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Cupertino this 5th day of April 1999 by the following vote:
Vote
AYE S:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAiN:
Members of the City Council
BURNETT, CHANG, JAMES, STATTON, DEAN
NONE
NONE
NONE
ATTEST:
Mayor, City o~,~2upertino