S-1162               _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5577

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

 

By Senator Bluechel

 

 

Read first time 1/27/89 and referred to Committee on   Energy & Utilities.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to telephone exchanges; 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 upon its own motion, or upon receipt of a petition signed by a majority of affected exchange area subscribers.

          After investigation and hearing, the commission shall alter the exchange area boundary and/or territorial boundary of a telecommunications company if it finds that:

          (1) (a) The telecommunications company serving the exchange area does not provide service to the satisfaction of the commission; or

          (b) The public interest requires an alternate provider or providers of service; and

          (2) (a) The change does not exclude the provision of telecommunications services by the current exchange area service provider;

          (b) The telecommunications company that may receive new subscribers has declared in writing an ability and willingness to serve such subscribers;

          (c) The exchange area boundaries and/or territorial boundaries of the area in question must not have been changed for at least seven years; and

          (d) The change must not result in the creation of a noncontiguous exchange for any telecommunications company involved.