S-2265.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6046
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senator Finkbeiner)
Read first time 03/05/97.
AN ACT Relating to a study by the utilities and transportation commission on universal telecommunications service; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that in a competitive telecommunications industry, telecommunications companies may be less inclined to invest in facilities to serve sparsely populated or hard-to-serve areas of the state. The legislature further finds that in order to secure for all consumers of the state the benefits of high quality telecommunications service and evolving telecommunications technology, it is necessary to study the creation of a universal service fund. The purpose of this fund would be to provide an incentive to telecommunications carriers to build facilities to provide universal service and to serve sparsely populated and hard-to-serve areas of the state while preserving to consumers in those areas the availability of telecommunications services at rates which are comparable to rates in urban areas and are affordable.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By January 1, 1998, the commission shall study and make recommendations on the future of providing universal telecommunications services in this state. The study shall include at least the following topics: A recommended definition of basic service for telecommunications; an analysis of the range of potential telecommunications carriers, including wireless; an analysis of the proper cost methodologies for determining universal service funding; and options for generating and disbursing universal service funding. The study shall be reported to the energy and utilities committees of the house of representatives and the senate.
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