S-2080               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6032

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Benitz, Williams, Barr, Stratton, Metcalf and West

Read first time 2/23/89 and referred to Committee on  Energy & Utilities.

AN ACT Relating to telecommunications; adding a new section to chapter 80.36 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that as the state moves into the twenty-first century telecommunications will be increasingly essential to the economy and that it is vital that the entire telecommunications network of the state is modern, allowing consumers to take full advantage of the economic opportunities of telecommunications.  The legislature further finds that the elimination of multiparty lines and mileage charges will aid in the development of the rural areas of the state, allowing Washington agriculture to take full advantage of modern telecommunications.  Additional benefits of eliminating multiparty lines and mileage charges include:  (1) Allowing suburban areas to be better able to take advantage of telecommuting, thereby avoiding additional traffic congestion; and (2) enhancing emergency response and thereby furthering the health and safety of the state's citizens.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 80.36 RCW to read as follows:

          The utilities and transportation commission shall study the feasibility of the elimination, by January 1, 1992, of multiparty lines and mileage charges in all telephone exchanges throughout the state.  The study shall include recommendations as to methods to equitably share the costs of any such program, any recommendations for legislative action, and an analysis of technological changes which may alter the telecommunications network in the next decade.  The utilities and transportation commission shall report the results of the study to the energy and utilities committees of the house of representatives and the senate by December 1, 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the public service revolving fund to the utilities and transportation commission for the purposes of this act.