H-3109.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2230

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature         1991 1st Special Session

By Representatives Heavey, Zellinsky, Haugen, Brough, Spanel, Horn, R. Johnson, Braddock and Wilson.

Read first time June 19, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.Providing access to cable television on islands.

     AN ACT Relating to the regulation of cable television on islands; adding new sections to chapter 80.54 RCW; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.      The legislature finds that many island residents are unable to obtain cable television at any price and that some cable television companies refuse to provide cable services simply because of the low resident population density of islands.  The legislature further finds that information and entertainment provided by the cable television companies are important to the welfare of island residents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 80.54 RCW to read as follows:

     A cable television company offering cable television hook-ups to one or more island residents shall offer at a reasonable cost the same service to all island residents.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 80.54 RCW to read as follows:

     Section 2 of this act shall be enforced by the commission.  The commission is hereby authorized to assess an amount sufficient to carry out the provisions of this section upon all cable television companies doing business in this state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.      This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.