WSR 18-21-158

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMISSION

[Docket UT-180831—Filed October 22, 2018, 1:08 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Local exchange telecommunications carriers' obligation to construct facilities and provide service on request pursuant to RCW 80.36.090.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040 and 80.04.160.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The rules governing telecommunication companies, chapter 480-120 WAC, in particular WAC 480-120-071, need to be clarified regarding obligations of local exchange companies to construct facilities and otherwise provide basic local telecommunications service on consumer request.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Negotiated rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Mark L. Johnson, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98503, phone 360-664-1160, email records@utc.wa.gov, web site www.utc.wa.gov.

Additional comments: WRITTEN COMMENTS: The commission invites comments on the subject of the proposed rule making. Written comments must be submitted to the commission for filing no later than 5 p.m., Friday, December 7, 2018. Pursuant to WAC 480-07-250(3), written comments must be submitted in electronic form, specifically in searchable .pdf format (Adobe Acrobat or comparable software). As provided in WAC 480-07-140(5), those comments must be submitted via the commission's web portal at www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing. If you are unable to submit documents via the portal, you may submit your comments by email to the commission's records center at records@utc.wa.gov or by mailing or delivering an electronic copy to the commission's records center on a flash drive, DVD, or compact disc that includes the filed document(s). Comment submissions should include:

The commission will post all written comments on its web site at the following URL address: www.utc.wa.gov/180831. If you have questions regarding this rule making, you may contact staff lead, Gregory J. Kopta, at 360-664-1355 or email gregory.kopta@utc.wa.gov.

STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: Interested persons are invited to attend a stakeholder workshop on January 7, 2019, beginning at 9:30 a.m., in Room 206, Richard Hemstad Building, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA.

Stakeholders will have further opportunity for comment. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's web site as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may:

When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket UT-180831 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. The commission's mailing address is Executive Director and Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250.

NOTICE: If you do not want to comment now, but do want to receive future information about this rule making, please notify the executive director and secretary in one of the ways described above and ask to be included on the mailing list for Docket UT-180831. If you do not do this, you might not receive further information about this rule making.

October 22, 20218

Mark L. Johnson

Executive Director and Secretary