Article: RULES MAKE IT TOUGHER TO PARTY ON PARTY LINE AFTER PARENT COMPLAINTS, DPU SAYS FIRMS MUST OFFER FAMILIES THE RIGHT NOT TO REACH OUT

Twelve - ear-old Suzanne Hutchinson of Concord used to spend hours talking on the so-called "party line" to other youngsters. But after family friction developed because of a bill of more than $100 for use of the popular service, she blamed herself and became withdrawn.

"My chief issue is, my 12-year-old daughter was using the service," said Suzanne's mother, Susan Hutchinson, "and she had no idea how these things added up."

As a result of parents' complaints about bills racked up by their children on party line calls, the state Department of Public Utilities has adopted regulations that allow customers to control access to party line services. The new regulations took effect Friday.

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