Agenda Date:  May 27, 1998    
Item Number:  

Docket:  UT-971664
   Proposed Rulemaking concerning the Washington Telephone Assistance    
Program (WTAP) client mechanisms.
    
Company Name: Telecommunications Companies - General

Staff:    Rebecca Beaton, Regulatory Consultant
    Bob Shirley, Regulatory Consultant
    Bob Wallis, Administrative Law Judge

Recommendation: 

In Docket No. UT-971664, direct the Secretary to file a Proposed Rule (CR-102).

Discussion:

The proposed rule revisions before the Commission are for the purpose of 
reducing the administrative effort and time needed to respond to changes in 
state and federal telephone assistance policies.  Due to the dynamic nature of 
the program and the federal and state support mechanisms, the method of 
revising the client support amount must be flexible to assure continued 
universal service discounts are passed through to clients without delay. This 
action is consistent with Washington’s telecommunications policy goal of 
preservation of affordable universal service as enunciated in RCW 80.36.300. 

Staff proposes administrative amendments to WAC 480-122-020 (Washington 
Telephone Assistance Program Rate) and WAC 480-120-070 (Recovery of Costs).  
Comments on the preproposal statement of intent were due in response to the 
CR-101 on May 21, 1998.  No opposition to the proposed rule amendments was 
received. 

The only comments filed with the Commission on the preproposal were by the 
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Washington Telephone 
Assistance Program administrators in support of the proposal.  DSHS has, under 
RCW 80.36.410-475, the jurisdiction and responsiblity for administration of 
many aspects of the state telephone assistance and LIFELINE programs.

For the reasons set forth, Staff recommends that the Commission direct the 
Secretary to file the Proposed Rule Making CR-102 form with the Code Reviser 
and issue a notice inviting comment. The matter will then come back before the 
Commission for adoption of the rules on a permanent basis.