In keeping with ongoing changes in the increasingly competitive telecommunications industry, the New York State Public Service Commission has directed Verizon, the state's largest provider of traditional land line telephone service, to focus its repair and maintenance efforts on "core" customers in need of regulatory protection.

The definition of a core customer includes customers living in areas that do not currently have a land line competitive alternative, those subscribing to Lifeline discounted telephone service, and customers with special needs including the elderly, blind or disabled and those with medical emergencies as defined in the Commission's Rule §609.5. For a copy, click here.

Customers having a disability as defined in the Human Rights Law, those who are legally blind, and customers aged 62 or older, are encouraged to notify Verizon of that information, and upon doing so, will automatically become eligible for priority repair service. Such customers are also provided special protections concerning disconnection of phone service if they have trouble paying their bill.

Elderly, blind or disabled customers of Verizon's land line telephone service can complete and submit a form to Verizon to ensure that their account is properly coded so that they are eligible to receive priority repair service.  For a copy of the form, click here.

Questions regarding protections for core customers can be addressed directly to Verizon or to the Commission's Office of Consumer Services at 1-800-342-3377.