SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 2553

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

             Energy & Utilities, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to mandatory measured telecommunications service.

Brief Description:  Extending the prohibition on filing for a tariff on mandatory measured telecommunications service.

Sponsors:  Representatives Crouse, Morris, DeBolt, Kessler, Cooper, Benson, Mielke, Dunshee, Hankins, Delvin, Zellinsky, Constantine, Kastama, O'Brien, Conway, Dickerson and Mason.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy & Utilities:  2/23/98, 2/24/98 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Finkbeiner, Chair; Hochstatter, Vice Chair; Brown, Jacobsen, Rossi, T. Sheldon and Strannigan.

Staff:  Karen Kirkpatrick (786-7403)

Background:  Most telephone customers in Washington pay a flat monthly rate for local telephone service.  Many of the local exchange companies also offer their customers the option of paying for local calls on a per call basis.  This practice is commonly known as local measured service.  Under this option, the telephone customer pays a lower monthly rate and pays for the calls actually made, based on the time of day, length of call, and in some cases, the distance of the call.

Telecommunications service providers file tariffs or price lists with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The 1985 Legislature placed a temporary ban on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission=s ability to approve a mandatory local measured service tariff filing.  This ban was extended by the Legislature in 1987 and again in 1989.  In 1993, the Legislature extended the ban until June 1, 1998.

Summary of Bill:  The ban on the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission=s ability to approve a mandatory local measured service tariff filing is extended to June 1, 2001, and is expanded to include a ban on the commission=s ability to approve a price list that imposes mandatory local measured service.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This bill does not prevent customers who want measured service from getting it and the extension of the ban is temporary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mark Greenberg, Tracer (pro); Dedi Hitchens, NFIB (pro); Gary Smith, Ind. Bus. Association (pro).