WSR 13-14-122

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMISSION

[Docket UT-131239—Filed July 3, 2013, 11:01 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The commission initiates this rule making to consider amending existing rules and adopting new rules in chapter 480-120 WAC, Telephone companies, and chapter 480-123 WAC, Universal service, to implement the provisions of E2SHB [2E2SHB] 1971, enacted in the 2013 second special legislative session. Part II of the bill requires the commission to establish rules to implement a state universal communications service program.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: E2SHB [2E2SHB] 1971, section 204, RCW 80.01.040(4).

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Under 2E2SHB 1971, section 203(2) provides that the commission will implement and administer the state universal communications service program. The bill authorizes the commission to adopt rules by July 1, 2014, concerning:

•	Operation of the program;

•	Criteria for eligibility for distributions from the account, use of distributed funds, identification of reports to be filed with the commission;

•	Disbursements from the universal communications services account;

•	Benchmarks and other criteria to calculate distributions from the account; and

•	An advisory board to advise the commission on rules and policies governing the operation of the program.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, schedule one or more workshops, and will provide the opportunity to provide additional written comments on draft rules and proposed CR-102 prior to adoption.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Interested persons may file comments with the Executive Director and Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA 98504-7250, phone (360) 664-1174, fax (360) 586-1150, e-mail records@utc.wa.gov, or through the commission's web portal at www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing by 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 2, 2013.

WRITTEN COMMENTS AND STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP: The commission has scheduled stakeholder workshop[s] in this rule making for Monday, July 15, 2013, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the commission's Hearing Room, Richard Hemstad Building, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA. Written comments may be submitted to the commission at the address given above and should be filed with the commission no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Electronic copies. The commission requests that comments be provided in electronic format to enhance public access, for ease of providing comments, to reduce the need for paper copies, and to facilitate quotations from the comments. Comments may be submitted via the commission's web portal at www.utc.wa.gov/e-filing or by electronic mail to the commission's records center at records@utc.wa.gov. Please include:

•	The docket number of this proceeding (UT-131239).
•	The commenting party's name.
•	The title and date of the comment or comments.

An alternative method for submitting comments may be by mailing/delivering an electronic copy on a 3 1/2 inch, IBM-formatted, high-density disk, in .pdf Adobe Acrobat format or in Word 97 or later. Include all of the information requested above. The commission will post on the commission's web site all comments that are provided in electronic format. The web site is located at http://www.utc.wa.gov/131239. If you are unable to file your comments electronically or to submit them on a disk, the commission will always accept a paper document.

Opportunity for further comment is anticipated. Information about the schedule and other aspects of the rule making, including comments, will be posted on the commission's web site as it becomes available. If you wish to receive further information on this rule making you may (1) call the commission's records center at (360) 664-1234, (2) e-mail the commission at <records@utc.wa.gov>, or (3) mail written comments to the address above to the attention of Steven V. King, acting executive director and secretary. When contacting the commission, please refer to Docket UT-131239 to ensure that you are placed on the appropriate service list. Questions may be addressed to Brian Thomas, senior telecommunications policy advisor by phone (360) 359-1049, or e-mail bthomas@utc.wa.gov.

notice

TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NOTICES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RULE MAKING — The commission wants to ensure its mailings are sent to persons who are interested in the topic and want to receive that information. ANY PERSON WHO COMMENTS will continue to receive notices and information. If you do not submit comments but wish to remain on the mailing list for this rule making, please advise the records center by any one of the following methods: (1) Send a note with your name, address (or a copy of your mailing label), and telephone and fax numbers referencing Docket UT-131239, and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list"; or (2) e-mail your name, address, telephone and fax numbers, referencing Docket UT-1312139 [UT-131239], and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list" to <records@utc.wa.gov>. Please note that all information in the mailings will be accessible through the commission's internet web site at <http://www.utc.wa.gov/131239>. THOSE INTERESTED PERSONS WHO DO NOT RESPOND MAY NOT RECEIVE FURTHER MAILINGS OR INFORMATION ON THE RULE MAKING.

July 3, 2013

Steven V. King

Acting Executive Director

and Secretary