WestTennessee

Customer Information

Statement of Nondiscrimination Ritter Communications is the recipient of federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of

Ritter Communications is interested in stopping these calls and will do everything necessary to cooperate with our customers and the police departments concerning this problem. A person receiving such calls may simply hang up. You do not have to listen. If you are threatened at any time, notify the police. Emergency Use of Public Pay Telephone In Tennessee, it is a Class C misdemeanor to not relinquish a public pay telephone line if requested to place an emergency call for fire, police, medical or ambulance service. T.C.A. 65-21-112 Obtaining Telephone Service by Fraudulent Means For your protection, new equipment and procedures enable the telephone company to detect and investigate fraudulent calls. The law of Tennessee provides that it shall be unlawful for any person to obtain or attempt to obtain telephone service by fraudulent means with the intent to avoid payment for unlawful charges. This includes not only the obtaining of local service but the obtaining of long distance service by fraudulent schemes, devices, means or methods, with intent to avoid payment. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, will be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by fine not exceeding $1,000, or by both, in the discretion of the court.

race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, you can write to USDA, Director, Center for Civil Rights Enforcement, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250, or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (voice), (800) 877-8339 (relay voice users) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). You can also send an email to CR-Info@ USDA.gov . USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Tariffs Tariffs which show rates, rules and regulations for telephone service and facilities approved by the Regulatory Commission are available in our business office for public inspection. Transmitting Messages Employees of the telephone company are forbidden to accept oral or written messages to be transmitted over the lines of the telephone company. Employees are also bound by Federal Communications code to refrain from discussing company business outside of the realm of business transactions and communications.

Unlawful Acts Annoyance Calls

Wiretapping It is a crime under federal law for any person, including a telephone customer, to wiretap or otherwise intercept a telephone call unless that person has first obtained the consent of one of the parties actually participating in the call. Under Tennessee law, however, the consent of the owner or owners of the line must first be obtained before a telephone conversation can be overheard by a person who is not a party to the call. Properly authorized law enforcement officers can engage in interceptions without the consent of either party when proceeding under court orders issued pursuant to applicable provisions of federal law. Under federal law, the penalty for illegal wiretapping can be imprisonment for five (5) years, a $10,000 fine or both. Under state law, the penalty can be a fine of not less than $25 and no more than $50.

Obscene and harassing calls are considered unlawful in Tennessee. Persons violating this law will be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, will be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and, in the discretion of the court, shall be confined in the county jail or workhouse for some period of time less than one (1) year. (Public Acts 1969 Ch. 85.)

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888.336.4466 • rittercommunications.com