S-4727               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6745

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Williams and Benitz

Read first time 2/4/88 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to alternate operator services; and adding new sections to chapter 80.36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that a growing number of companies provide, in a nonresidential setting, telecommunications services necessary to long distance service without disclosing the services provided or the cost.  The legislature finds that provision of these services without disclosure to consumers is a deceptive trade practice.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The utilities and transportation commission shall by rule require, at a minimum, that any telecommunications company, operating as or contracting with an alternate operator services company, assure appropriate disclosure to consumers of the provision and cost of services provided by an alternate operator services company.

          For the purposes of this chapter, "alternate operator services company" means a person providing a connection to intrastate or interstate long-distance services from places including, but not limited to, hotels, motels, hospitals, and customer-owned pay telephones.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     In addition to the penalties provided in this title, a violation of section 1 or 2 of this act constitutes a violation of chapter 19.86 RCW, the consumer protection act.  It shall be presumed that damages to the consumer are equal to the cost of the service provided plus two hundred dollars. Additional damages must be proved.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 1 through 3 of this act are each added to chapter 80.36 RCW.