FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2526

PARTIAL VETO

                                  C 247 L 90

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, Miller, Nelson and May; by request of Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission

Revising provisions for registration of telecommunication companies.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

New telecommunications companies are required to register with the Utilities and Transportation Commission before beginning operations.  Currently a company must be registered before it can petition to have its services classified as competitive.  This requires two separate dockets to be maintained for what are usually routine proceedings.  Allowing a company to apply for registration and petition for competitive classification at the same time would simplify paper flow and streamline the process.

An alternate operator services company is defined by statute as a company offering connections to intrastate or interstate telecommunications services from hotels, motels, hospitals, and customer-owned pay telephones.  In 1988, the Legislature directed the Utilities and Transportation Commission to adopt rules requiring telecommunications companies operating as or contracting with an alternate operator services company to disclose to customers the provision of and rate for services provided by the alternate operator service.

SUMMARY:

A telecommunications company may petition for competitive classification at the same time it applies for registration.  The commission may rule on both requests in the same proceeding.

Alternate operator service companies are required to register as telecommunications companies with the Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The commission may adopt minimum standards for alternate operator services.  The commission may deny an application if it determines that the services and charges proposed by the company are not for the public convenience or advantage.  A company that does not register is subject to penalties.  Acts in violation of the commission rules are a violation of the consumer protection act.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 97   0

      Senate    49     0 (Senate amended)

      House 92   0 (House concurred)

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990

Partial Veto Summary:  The provision to co-file as a telecommunications company and to classify services as competitive is deleted because the provision is in another bill that was enacted.  (See VETO MESSAGE)