Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.36.440, 80.01.040, and 80.04.160.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: WAC 480-122-020 is obsolete because of changes to universal service and state telecommunications environments. The program methodology established in the rule is obsolete and the rule is no longer necessary. Existing statutes adequately address the state program specifics and requirements.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The Federal Communications Commission has jurisdiction over matching and nonmatching support funding through the LIFELINE program. The Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for administering that program in Washington. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is authorized to regulate and impose rules related to the subject of telecommunications. Those agencies will be invited to participate.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, and will provide the opportunity for additional comments. The commission will schedule a workshop style meeting if comments indicate that such a session is needed and would be productive.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested persons may contact the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250, (360) 664-1174, FAX (360) 586-1150. Such persons may submit comments, as specified below, or may ask to be included in the commission's list of interested persons for the proceeding.

written comments: Written comments in response to the CR-101 from persons interested in the subject matter of this proposed rule making may be filed with the Commission Secretary, referencing Docket No. UT-971664, not later than May 21, 1998. All commenters are asked, but not required, to file an original and ten copies of their written comments. The commission also requests, but does not require, that comments be provided on a 3 1/2 inch IBM formatted high-density disk, in WordPerfect version 5.1, 6.0, or 6.1, labeled with the docket number of this proceeding and the commenter's name and type of software used. The commission may offer additional opportunities to provide written comments. Interested persons may file additional written comments in response to any such invitation. The commission will schedule a workshop style meeting if comments indicate that such a session is needed and would be productive.

April 9, 1998

Paul Curl

Acting Secretary