HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 1579

BYRepresentatives Bristow, Vekich, Braddock, Jacobsen and Grant

Authorizing public utility districts to offer radio communication services.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment. (13)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Brooks, Gallagher, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, Meyers, Miller, Sutherland and Unsoeld.

Minority Report:  Do not pass. (1)

      Signed by Representative S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Persons in remote locations may not have telephone service and obtaining it could be very costly.  An alternative, radio telephone communications, may not be commercially available to all persons.  A solution might be for a consumer-owned utility such as a public utility district to offer this service.

SUMMARY:

A public utility district may offer land, air, or marine mobile telecommunications or other radio telecommunications services. If the service is to be offered to consumers outside the service territory of the PUD, then permission must first be obtained from the governing body of the appropriate jurisdiction.  A PUD would not come under the jurisdiction of the Utilities and Transportation Commission by offering this service.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Bristow, sponsor; Bob Joy, Washington State Grange; Cliff Webster, U.S. West/New Vector (Neither for nor against - to provide information and answer questions); and Tom Mortimer, Washington Public Utility Districts Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Because of the vast territory and sparse settlement in the northeastern part of the state, cellular phone service would be of great value.  Also, providing wire telephone service to some remote points is prohibitively expensive, so radio alternatives should be made available.  Authorizing a public utility district to offer these services is a possible option if commercial service continues to be unavailable.  Federal Communications Commission authorization requirements were discussed.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.