Since 1996, the Texas Payphone Association has been one of the most successful trade associations in the country. In that year, the TPA Board of Directors totally restructured the association and adopted the strategic planning process utilized by most of the successful state and national associations across the country. Every year since 1996, the TPA Board has developed an annual strategic plan that matches the association’s priorities for the coming year with the resources it has to address those priorities. Nearly every accomplishment listed on this page was at one time a goal included in a TPA strategic plan designed to help the entire Texas payphone industry.

One of TPA’s biggest accomplishments came in the summer of 1996, when the Board put its final stamp of approval on an overall government affairs program for the association. The program included the hiring of an outside lobby group to represent the association before the Texas Legislature, constant monitoring of bills before the legislature and regulatory proposals before the Public Utility Commission of Texas, a legitimate plan to raise PAC funds, and a program to develop personal relationships with elected officials. As a result, no harmful legislation or regulatory decisions have been issued against the payphone industry on the state level in the last five years.

The passage of House Bill 1351 in the 77th Texas Legislature was unquestionably the biggest legislative victory in the history of TPA. However, the bill, which repealed payphone providers’ 3.6% contribution into the Texas Universal Service Fund, is only one of many legislative and regulatory accomplishments the association has achieved for the Texas payphone industry since the passage of the Federal Telecommunications Act in 1996. Below are some of the major accomplishments of the association over the past six years:

Before The Texas Legislature

In 2001, TPA passed HB 1351, which repealed payphone providers’ 3.6% direct payment into the Texas Universal Service Fund, saving the Texas Payphone industry over $5 million annually.

In 1999, TPA defeated five harmful payphone bills, including HB 83, which would have required all payphones to provide change to customers.

In 1997, the TPA Board developed an overall government affairs program that included hiring an outside lobby firm to represent the association before the Texas Legislature. Since that time, no harmful legislation affecting the Texas payphone industry has been passed. TPA now monitors and tracks all bills filed with the Texas Legislature and notifies its membership of legislation affecting the industry.  The association also provides an analysis of each bill, develops an official industry position, and drafts position papers for TPA members and the Texas Legislature.

Since 1996, the TPA Political Action Committee has contributed over $100,000 to over 100 candidates who support the Texas payphone industry.

Since 1996, TPA participated in over 125 political fundraisers for legislative candidates.

Since 1996, TPA developed a one-on-one program where TPA members established personal relationships with their elected officials and participated in their campaigns through volunteer support.

Before The Public Utility Commission of Texas

TPA became the first state association to fully implement all provisions of the FCC 1996 payphone order. Most states still have not completely implemented the order.

TPA resolved rate agreements with all 51 Texas LECs, which resulted in line rate reductions from 42 LECs, including Southwestern Bell, GTE, and Sprint. Southwestern Bell’s B-1 business line rates were established for all payphones and “measured service” with all LECs, except one, was eliminated.

TPA assisted the PUC in writing its current payphone rules, which eliminated the 25¢ cap on local coin calls and allowed payphone providers to start charging for directory assistance calls.

TPA received a favorable decision from the PUC in the public interest payphone proceeding, which would have destroyed the Texas payphone industry by forcing providers to maintain unprofitable phones in rural locations.

TPA successfully represented the payphone industry in Southwestern Bell’s rate reclassification case, which would have increased payphone line rates in 49 Texas exchanges. No increase was ordered for payphone lines. 

TPA negotiated agreements with Southwestern Bell and GTE to stop charging payphone providers the pass-through charge for the Texas Universal Service Fund, and got the PUC to issue an order for all other LECs to do the same. 

TPA developed a new standard payphone placard, which was approved by the PUC enforcement staff for use by all Texas payphone providers.

TPA got the PUC to rewrite its payphone registration rules to eliminate the requirement of payphone providers to file physical locations and update them twice-a-year.

TPA worked with the PUC on a new rule to have LECs disconnect payphone providers who do not lawfully register with the commission.

Other Accomplishments

TPA caused the national association to appoint a Dial Around Task Force to develop a new dial around collection system and it brought legal action against several prepaid calling card companies not paying dial around.

TPA has obtained over $85,000.00 in TUSF, ELC, and TIF refunds to its members from over 20 different LECs who have been wrongfully assessing these surcharges to payphone providers.

TPA negotiated a new agreement with Southwestern Bell Public Payphone Division to improve its disconnect procedures when private payphone providers submit LOAs for processing. 

TPA has represented the association before the news media and conducted over 50 interviews with the press to convey the message of the private payphone industry to the Texas public.