When you place a collect or third-number billed call, the telecommunications provider that handled the call may want to bill you directly, so we must provide them your name and address. Telecommunications service providers are usually long distance companies, but also may include pay phone owners, long distance resellers, and "900" pay per call providers. Your name and address are to be used for customer service, to prevent fraud, or to update mailing addresses, but cannot be used for marketing.

If you do not want your billing name and address released, simply call Consolidated Customer Service at 800-742-7464. You should be aware that you will not be able to place third number calls or receive collect calls if your billing name and address is not released.

In 2007, Federal Communication Commission rules designed to protect the privacy of your telephone account information went into effect. These new rules require that we identify callers as person(s) authorized to discuss account information. To identify callers, we ask a question to which a previously provided answer was selected:

1. What are the last four digits of your social security number?
2. In what town were you born?
3. What is your internet password?

These rules only allow us to discuss information with the authorized person(s). Please call Consolidated at 800-742-7464 if you wish to change person(s) identification information or add additional authorized person(s) to your account.

We are responsible for the line to your home and any equipment provided by Consolidated, not for problems with equipment you own or equipment leased from a third party. Equipment not furnished by Consolidated may be used, provided such use does not interfere, endanger, or damage our facilities, or the services we provide. Any items used in violation of our tariff may lead to the removal of the equipment or the suspension of telephone service.

In order to avoid interruption of utility service, Nebraska law requires that everyone planning to excavate (or otherwise disturb the ground) must call Diggers Hotline at least two business days, but not more that 10 days, before the work is scheduled to start. Customers can access Diggers Hotline free of charge by dialing 8-1-1 or 800-331-5666 from any phone. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please be ready to provide the following information:

• Your name, address and phone number.
• Start date, time, and duration of the excavation.
• For whom the work is being performed.
• Driving instructions to the area to be excavated, as well as a description of the work site.

After you call Digger's Hotline, they will in turn authorize us to begin locating facilities.

The National Do Not Call Registry has been established to offer you a choice about receiving telemarketing calls at home. Registering will stop most telemarketing calls but it will not stop calls from political organizations, charities, and companies conducting surveys or companies with whom you have done business within the last 18 months.

Consumers can register their residential phone numbers, but the Registry does not cover business numbers. The number will be on the Do Not Call list the day after registration. Telemarketers have up to 31 days to remove the number from call lists. Your registration will not expire but a number can be removed from the list at any time. You may register up to three numbers at one time if registering on the Internet. If registering via telephone, you can register only one number at a time and you must call from the telephone number you are registering.

To register or remove a number from the Do Not Call Registry call 1-888-382-1222, for TTY call 1-866-290-4236 or register on the Internet at www.donotcall.gov.

The Nebraska Telephone Assistance Program otherwise known as NTAP is a low-income program available to eligible customers. The NTAP program provides a monthly reduction in basic telephone service and free blocking of long distance calls. The NTAP program provides a discount of 50% on installation charges and the option to defer payment of connection charges without interest. The NTAP program does not cover the cost of wiring inside the home and is limited to one time per home address per customer.

You are eligible for the NTAP program if you participate in one of the following assistance programs:

• Medicaid.
• Food Stamps.
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Federal Housing Assistance.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
• Children's Health Insurance Programs (Kids Connections, SAM, MAC & EMAC)

Contact the Nebraska Public Service Commission at 1-800-526-0017. Should you become ineligible for low income assistance, you will no longer be eligible for the NTAP program.

The Nebraska Relay is a state-funded telephone service that enables TTY users who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Speech Disabled to communicate by phone with standard telephone users.

Similar to 4-1-1 for information, 7-1-1 is the newest and quickest way to access the relay any time, any place. Anyone may call the Nebraska Relay Service, at no charge, by dialing 7-1-1 from any home, business, cellular, or pay phone in Nebraska. To use Nebraska Relay:

• Dial 7-1-1.
• An operator called a Communication Assistant (CA) will answer your call. Give the CA the telephone number of the person you are trying to reach.
• Once your conversation begins, use the term "GA" to indicate it is the other person's turn to respond.

During your call, everything spoken will be typed to the TTY user, and everything typed will be read to the standard telephone user. All Nebraska Relay calls are completely confidential.

To learn more about 7-1-1 and the Nebraska Relay Service contact us at 1-800-676-3777 Voice/TTY.

If you are receiving obscene or threatening calls, the following suggestions may be helpful:

• Hang up at the first obscene word, or if the caller does not say anything after the second hello.
• Always find out who is calling, the name of the person, and the company he or she represents.
• Do not give information, such as your name or address, and advise your children not to give out information either.
• Inform your children that if you are not at home they should say, "My mother and father are busy and can't come to the phone right now."
• Screen your calls using calling features such as Caller ID, Call Rejection, or Call Acceptance. For more information, see the Optional Services section.
• If calls persist, and you have used the techniques suggested above, call your local police department. Intentional annoyance of another by telephone is prohibited by law. The maximum penalty for violation is a fine of $500, or three months imprisonment, or both. (Nebraska Statute: 28-1310)

A variety of information services are available by dialing phone numbers with an area code of "900." The companies providing the information establish the price and content of these services.

For billing disputes or inquiries, please contact our business office. You have 60 days from the date of your bill to dispute a billing error. You have the right to withhold payment of disputed charges and no collection activity for disputed charges will occur while the charges are under investigation. The billing entity of "900" charges forfeits the amount of any telephone billed purchase (up to $50.00 per transaction) if it fails to comply with the billing error resolution requirement rules. If after investigation, it is determined that the disputed charges are legitimate, your long distance company or the information provider may proceed with outside collections against your account.

Your local and long distance service, however, cannot be disconnected for non-payment of "900" charges. Failure to pay legitimate "900" charges may result in involuntary blocking of access to "900" service. You may voluntarily block access to "900" services. If you prefer the ability to override the "900" block, you may want to order the Phone Lock feature. Please call us at 800-742- 7464 if you are interested in either of these services.

Nebraska law prohibits the fraudulent use of a calling card or telephone billing number to obtain telephone service for the purpose of avoiding charges.

The maximum penalty for violation is 20 years imprisonment, or $25,000, or both. (Nebraska Statute: 28-515)

The privacy of your telecommunication services is important. We will keep information relating to your account or your telecommunication services confidential.

It is illegal to wiretap or otherwise intercept a telephone call without first obtaining a court order. Wiretapping is punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Regulations and rules governing Consolidated's services are on file at our business office. One of our customer service representatives will be glad to assist you in obtaining this information. Problems regarding telephone service or billing should be brought to our attention by calling us at 800-742-7464 or writing us at:

ATTN: Customer Service Supervisor
6900 Van Dorn Street Ste 21
Lincoln, NE 68506

If we do not satisfactorily resolve service or billing problems, you may refer the problem to the following:

Nebraska Public Service Commission
300 The Atrium
1200 N Street
Lincoln, NE 68509-4927
402-471-3101 or 800-526-0017

Consolidated Telco, Inc., is the recipient of Federal financial assistance from the Rural Electrification Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is subject to the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which provide that no person in the United States on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap shall be excluded from participation in, admission or access to, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any of this organization's programs or activities.

The person responsible for coordinating this organization's nondiscrimination compliance efforts is Charles L. Fast, President. Any individual, or specific class of individuals, who feels that this organization has subjected them to discrimination may obtain further information about the statutes and regulations listed above from and/or file a written complaint with this organization; or the Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250; or the Administrator, Rural Electrification Administration, Washington, D.C. 20250. Complaints must be filed within 180 days after the alleged discrimination.

Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible.

Customers can access weather reports and road conditions around the clock by dialing 5-1-1 from any phone. Callers can request route specific information for interstates and highways throughout the state. There is no charge to callers. This program is managed by the Nebraska State Patrol and Department of Roads.

Here are some tips for handling unsolicited sales and survey calls:

• Your time is important. If you are not interested in unsolicited calls, say so. Offers that sound too good to be true often are. Don't feel pressured; ask callers to send you information you can consider at your convenience. Do not give your credit card numbers to a caller. If you decide to purchase something over the phone, ask for the company's telephone number, and call them back. If a caller will not let you end the conversation graciously, hang up.
• You have a right to privacy. Only answer questions on the phone that you would answer if asked in person. Do not give information to callers you don't know.
• Screen your calls using Custom Calling Features such as Caller ID, Anonymous Call Rejection, or Call Acceptance. For more information, see the Optional Services section.
• Companies using questionable sales practices should be reported to the Better Business Bureau or the State Attorney General's office.
• Register with the Do Not Call Registry: call 1-888-382-1222, for TTY call 1-866-290-4236 or register on the Internet at www.donotcall.gov.