SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESHB 1461

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, MARCH 25, 1993

Brief Description:  Extending the prohibition on mandatory local measured service.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representatives Kremen, Miller, Jacobsen and Long)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Jesernig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Roach, Vognild, West, and Williams.

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786‑7445)

Hearing Dates:  March 18, 1993; March 25, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Most telephone customers in Washington pay a flat monthly rate for local telephone service.  Many of the local exchange companies offer their customers the option to pay for local calls on a per call basis.  This is commonly known as local measured service.  Under this option, the telephone customer pays a lower monthly rate and then pays for the calls actually made, based on the time of day, length of call, and in some cases, the distance of the call.  Some areas of the nation have mandatory local measured service and flat rate service is not available.

In 1984, the Legislature placed a temporary ban on Utilities and Transportation Commission approval of telecommunications company filings of mandatory local measured service.  This ban contains an exception for filings made related to extended area service or  foreign exchange service if the Utilities and Transportation Commission finds that these filings are in the public interest.  This ban was last extended by the Legislature in 1989 and is set to expire June 1, 1993.

SUMMARY:

The prohibition on Utilities and Transportation Commission approval of a telecommunications tariff for mandatory local measured service is extended to June 1, 1998.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Mandatory local measured service would not be supported by the public.  The ban on this service offering should remain.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Kim Ambler, Mark Greenberg, Tracer; Tom Walker, US West