HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 6510

BYSenators Benitz, Bluechel and Williams; by request of Utilities and Transportation Commission

Revising provisions for registration of telecommunication companies.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; H. Myers, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Bennett, Brooks, Cooper, Jacobsen, May, R. Meyers, Miller and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

New telecommunications companies are required to register with the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (WUTC) before beginning operations.  A company may then petition to have its services classified as competitive, a classification that involves less WUTC regulation.  Currently, a company must be registered before it can petition to have its services classified as competitive.  This requires two separate dockets to be maintained for what are usually routine proceedings.

Allowing a company to apply for registration and petition for competitive classification at the same time would streamline the process.

SUMMARY:

A telecommunications company may petition for competitive classification at the same time it applies for registration.  The WUTC may rule on both requests in the same proceeding.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Raymond Day, Utilities and Transportation Commission.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This is an efficiency measure to eliminate duplication.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.