According to Richard V. Scali, the commission's executive officer, if a cab driver accepts a patron who has just left a hotel, he is obliged to charge the flat rate unless the patron asks for a metered rate.
But at least two Harvard Square taxi drivers disagreed.
One said in an interview that passengers must request it. Another said flat rates are available only at certain times of the day.
The rule's opponents suggested that local hotels, which were enthusiastic about the policy last March and in their recent letters to the commission, are not particularly interested in the outcome.
Bill Labellini, who distributes brochures to area hotels describing the flat rates, questioned whether the hotels care, saying that only two have requested additional brochures since March.
The commission took both matters under advisement and will render a decision on Jan. 30