H-1959              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2183

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State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representative Betrozoff

Read first time 3/1/89 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to territorial boundaries for telecommunications companies; and amending RCW 80.36.230.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 80.36.230, chapter 14, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 37, chapter 450, Laws of 1985 and RCW 80.36.230 are each amended to read as follows:

          The commission is hereby granted the power to prescribe exchange area boundaries and/or territorial boundaries for telecommunications companies.

In order to preserve universal telephone service at affordable rates, all current territorial boundaries for telecommunications companies shall expire on January 1, 1992.  Starting on the effective date of this act, the commission shall begin the review to determine whether any or all territorial boundaries of a telecommunications company shall be revised.  The commission's review shall include, but is not limited to, a determination of whether:

(1) Territorial boundaries and the resulting calling patterns are consistent with the growth of communities so that ratepayers may have affordable service to their communities of interest; and

(2) A territorial boundary change would be in the public interest.

The commission shall conclude its review by January 1, 1992, in order that the new boundaries authorized by the commission can go into effect by January 2, 1992.

If the commission finds that a current territorial boundary should be revised, no property may be taken without just compensation.