H-751                _______________________________________________

                                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 79

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Todd, Armstrong, Unsoeld, Wang and Wineberry

Read first time 1/15/87 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to consumer disclosures about long distance telecommunication services; adding new sections to chapter 19.130 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the federal deregulation of the telephone industry has provided telephone consumers a choice between carriers for their long distance telephone service.  The legislature finds that competitive markets function at their best if consumers have available to them sufficient information to make an informed choice.  Therefore,  the legislature further finds that the disclosure of certain information about long distance services in a form that enables comparison by the general public will benefit the consumers of long distance services, enhance competition, and generally benefit the public.

          Sections 2 and 3 of this act are not intended to regulate long distance companies, but to enhance the market in order to better serve consumers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 19.130 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) All long distance telephone service carriers shall file with the utilities and transportation commission the following information regarding their services:

          (a) Generally, the locations served by the carrier.  This may be broken down by state;

          (b) Any subscription charges (charges for using the service), monthly or periodic fees, usage fee (charge according to amount used), or service fees;

          (c) The point in the phone call at which billing commences (i.e., after several rings, a certain time, or when the call is answered);

          (d) Time increments by which billings are made (i.e., 30 seconds, one minute, etc.);

          (e) The availability and rate of long distance directory assistance;

          (f) Discounts, bonuses, or special offerings;

          (g) Travel features, including travel feature surcharges and rates if distinguishable from standard rates;

          (h) How to credit wrong numbers;

          (i) How to cancel or to switch to a different carrier; and

          (j) The rates for long distance calls.  This information shall be provided as follows:  The utilities and transportation commission shall establish by rule a method to display the rates that can be easily understood by consumers so as to adequately allow them to compare prices.  This may include but is not limited to a system of unit pricing whereby rates are shown for comparable distances or locations for the first minute and each additional minute for various time periods and/or by distance bands, or any method designed to accomplish the purposes of this section.  In general, this information should demonstrate the costs of comparable calls from several locations in Washington to other locations inside and outside Washington.

          (2) The information required by subsection (1) of this section shall be provided on a form prescribed by the utilities and transportation commission to be known as the long distance consumer disclosure form.

          (3) Each long distance carrier shall keep current the information filed under this section.

          (4) "Long distance telephone service," as used in this section, includes both interstate and intrastate toll services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 19.130 RCW to read as follows:

          Telecommunication companies filing information under section 1 of this act shall:

          (1) Make the long distance consumer disclosure form available to consumers who contact the company and inquire about the company's long distance services; and

          (2) Notify consumers in advertisements and promotional literature of the existence of the long distance consumer disclosure form and the information it provides.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     Sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be known as the long distance choice act.