WSR 97-11-071

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION

COMMISSION

[Filed May 21, 1997, 11:00 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Possible exemption of prepaid calling card services from billing requirements. See WAC 480-120-106. Docket No. UT-961295.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Existing rules require a form of bill for all telecommunication services. The rule does not contemplate prepaid calling card services and its requirements are not appropriate for such services.

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 call for written comments, and may provide the opportunity for additional written comments. The commission will schedule an informal workshop with interested persons in a manner designed to develop consensus regarding any rule proposal.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250, (360) 753-6451, FAX (360) 586-1150.

Written Comments: Written comments from persons interested in the subject matter of this proposed rule making may be filed with the commission secretary, referencing Docket No. UT-961295, not later than June 6, 1997. 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 51. [5.1], 6.0 or 6.1, labeled with the commenter's name and type of software used. Interested persons may also file additional written comments and attend and participate in any workshops, to be announced by written notice to all commenters and to other persons specifically asking to receive notice in this rule-making proceeding.

Notice of Workshop: A workshop will be held on June 13, 1997, beginning at 1:30 p.m., in Room 207 of the Commission's Headquarters Office, 1300 South Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA.

May 16, 1997

Terrence Stapleton

for Steve McLellan