Z-1187               _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2526

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Miller, Nelson and May; by request of Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Read first time 1/15/90 and referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to registration of telecommunication companies; and amending RCW 80.36.350.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 7, chapter 450, Laws of 1985 and RCW 80.36.350 are each amended to read as follows:

          Each telecommunications company not operating under tariff in Washington on January 1, 1985, shall register with the commission before beginning operations in this state.  The registration shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and shall contain such information as the commission may by rule require, but shall include as a minimum the name and address of the company; the name and address of its registered agent, if any; the name, address, and title of each officer or director; its most current balance sheet; its latest annual report, if any; and a description of the telecommunications services it offers or intends to offer.

          The commission may require as a precondition to registration the procurement of a performance  bond sufficient to cover any advances or deposits the telecommunications company may collect from its customers, or order that such advances or deposits be held in escrow or trust.

          The commission may deny registration to any telecommunications company which:

          (1) Does not provide the information required by this section;

          (2) Fails to provide a performance bond, if required;

          (3) Does not possess adequate financial resources to provide the proposed service; or

          (4) Does not possess adequate technical competency to provide the proposed service.

          The commission shall take action to approve or issue a notice of hearing concerning any application for registration within thirty days after receiving the application.  The commission may approve an application with or without a hearing.  The commission may deny an application after a hearing.

A telecommunications company may also submit a petition for competitive classification under RCW 80.36.310 at the time it applies for registration.  The commission may act on the registration application and the competitive classification petition at the same time.