For Immediate Release
March 23, 1998

NTT Announces MPT-Required Measures For Revising Telephone Directory Assistance Charges

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) has announced measures that it will implement to satisfy requirements set by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), based on a report submitted to the MPT by the Telecommunications Council, as part of the corporation's revision of its telephone directory assistance service charges (please see attachment).

In order to give ample time for users to become aware of the revision, new charges for the service will become effective on May 1 this year, and a second round of revised charges will be introduced on May 1, 1999.

Attachment 1

Requirements and Related Measures for Revising NTT's Directory Assistance Charges

NTT will implement specific measures to satisfy the following requirements, set forth on February 27 by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) based on a report issued by the Telecommunications Council.

Requirement 1

All users should be informed in advance of the reason for and content of the directory assistance service charge revisions. Users should also be informed of all new procedures for using automated directory assistance services with touch-tone telephones. Additional users who will be included in the expanded range of people to be provided with directory assistance service free of charge should also be notified. Enough time should be set aside prior to implementation to ensure full awareness of the revisions.

Measures

NTT will not introduce the new charges until May 1 this year, and the second round of revised charges until May 1, 1999, to give users enough time to become aware of the changes. NTT will also continue, as it has in the past, taking the following measures to ensure awareness:

General information

1) Pamphlets will be sent to all telephone subscribers.
2)Newspaper and TV commercials will be run to announce the revisions.
3)Brochures explaining the revisions will be available at NTT sales windows.
4)A toll-free number (0120-888950) will be established to answer questions about the revisions.

Instructions on using the Annai Jozu automated directory assistance service using touch-tone telephones:

1) Pocketsize manuals will be produced to explain how to operate the automated service with push-button and hiragana (Japanese alphabet) keys, and stickers for push-button keys will be distributed upon request.
2)Toll-free numbers will be set up to answer questions about the service (0120-104662), and to let users practice operating it (0120-104668). (Note: both toll-free numbers are provisional, and are planned for commencement within this month.)

In regard to the Fureai Service, a directory-assistance service for disabled people, NTT will work with related organizations to have them publicize the revisions in their publications and distribute NTT-made pamphlets.

Requirement 2

NTT is required to consider providing directory assistance services to telephone numbers of certain institutions, such as organizations related to disaster-relief operations, free of charge.

Measures

During the Great Hanshin Earthquake, NTT provided its directory assistance service free of charge to telephone numbers of organizations involved in activities such as searching for missing people, notifying people of deaths and holding unidentified bodies.

NTT will provide free directory assistance for similar operations in the future, working in close cooperation with related disaster-relief headquarters.

Requirement 3

NTT should strive to offer telephone books that are comprehensive, easy and quick to use when searching for numbers related to emergencies and for commonly used public offices.

Measures

NTT currently provides easy-to-use information on public offices and emergency telephone numbers - such as hospitals, electricity and gas companies, government organizations and transportation companies - in the front of its Town Page telephone book under the heading of Public Service Pages (Main Dial List for the metropolitan Tokyo telephone book).

To make its telephone books even easier to use, NTT will produce the Public Service Pages in color and is currently considering enhanced layouts which reflect the users' opinions and requests.

Requirement 4

NTT is requested to enhance the current directory assistance service and work to further reduce service costs based on changes in customer use and needs for directory assistance.

Measures

NTT is drastically reorganizing its directory assistance operations to reduce costs. By the end of March 1999, NTT hopes to achieve its goal of completely out-sourcing all operators and will continue to work toward increasing the efficiency of the operators and to further reduce service costs.

Moreover, NTT will continue to maintain and enhance service standards, even after operators are completely out-sourced, to continue providing a fast and reliable service.

NTT will also make efforts to improve the Angel Line and Annai Jozu services by reflecting the opinions and needs of customers.

Attachment2

Revised Charges for Directory Assistance Services

The MPT, which gave NTT approval on February 27 to revise its directory assistance service charges, required that all users be informed in advance of the reason for and content of the directory assistance service charge revisions, all new procedures for using automated directory assistance services with touch-tone telephones, and the expanded scope of users who will be provided with directory assistance service free of charge. The MPT also required that enough time be set aside prior to implementation to ensure full awareness of the revisions. To answer these requirements, the new charges will not be implemented until May 1 this year to give users enough time to become aware of the changes.

Operator-Assisted Searches

Current Charges Revised Charges
First year of plan From second year
Day/night time
(8:00 - 23:00)		 One use per month ¥30 per use ¥50 per use ¥60 per use
More than one use per month Once ¥30 per use ¥50 per use ¥60 per use
Twice or more ¥60 per use ¥80 per use ¥90 per use
Late night/early morning (23:00 - 8:00) ¥60 per use ¥120 per use ¥150 per use
Note: A charge of ¥100 will be assessed for completed operator-assisted searches from public pay phones, regardless of the number of calls placed any time of day. The charge for operator-assisted searches from public telephones installed in trains, however, will remain unchanged at ¥30. The service may not be available from some pink-colored public telephones.

Automated Directory Assistance (Electronic Searches)

Current Charges Revised Charges
Day/night time
(8:00 - 23:00)		 ¥10 per 3 minutes ¥10 per 3 minutes, plus ¥15 per completed search
Late night/early morning
(23:00 - 8:00)		 ¥10 per 4 minutes ¥10 per 4 minutes, plus ¥15 per completed search
Note: The charge for a search from a public telephone will remain unchanged at ¥10 per 1 minute during the day and evening, and ¥10 per 80 seconds in the late night and early morning. All calls will be charged, including failed searches (failed searches will not be assessed the search charges).

Attachment 3

Other Directory Assistance Services

1. Promoting Automated Directory Assistance (Electronic Searches)
To promote the use of "Angel Line", an automated directory assistance service which can be used from personal computers and Angel Note terminals, NTT will allow consecutive searches instead of terminating the call after each search. Moreover, a new service, "Annai Jozu" (provisional name), will enable convenient automated directory assistance from touch-tone telephones (starting May 1). NTT will continue to improve search procedures for these services.
2. Expanding the scope of "Fureai Service"
Fureai Annai, a free directory assistance service for people who have difficulties using telephone books due to visual or upper-body disabilities, will also be expanded to include people with mental disabilities starting May 1.


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