SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1579

BYRepresentatives Bristow, Vekich, Braddock, Jacobsen and Grant

Authorizing public utility districts to offer radio communication services.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 25, 1988

Senate Staff:Phil Moeller (786-7445)

AS OF FEBRUARY 23, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Persons in remote locations may not have telephone service and obtaining it could be very costly.  An alternative, radio telephone communications, may not be commercially available to all persons.  A solution might be for a consumer-owned utility such as a public utility district to offer this service.

SUMMARY:

A public utility district may offer land, air, or marine mobile telecommunications or other radio telecommunications services. If the service is to be offered to consumers outside the service territory of the PUD, then permission must first be obtained from the governing body of the appropriate jurisdiction.  A PUD would not come under the jurisdiction of the Utilities and Transportation Commission by offering this service.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested