R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-21.1-9: Pay telephones, dialing without a coin.

Every pay station telephone of a telephone common carrier served from a central office having a dial-tone-first capability shall permit a caller to dial 911, or to reach an operator by dialing “0,” without first inserting a coin or paying any other charge. No telephone common carrier shall eliminate the dial-tone-first capability from any central office having this capability on June 13, 1986.