DOCKET UT-980035 Page 1
BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


In the Matter of the Application    ) DOCKET UT-971705
of SMARTSTOP, INC.,    )
for an Order Authorizing    )
the Registration of Applicant    ) AUTHORIZING
as a Telecommunications Company     ) REGISTRATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . )


  On December 1, 1998, SmartStop, Inc., filed an application for registration 
as a telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.350.  Applicant proposes 
to offer resold direct dialed long distance, debit card, and pay telephone 
services to the public.

  SmartStop, Inc., is an Oregon corporation, headquartered in Portland, Oregon. 
The corporation is equally owned by Jubitz Corporation and B.R.G. Corporation.

  SmartStop, Inc., has provided information showing that it possesses adequate 
financial resources, and technical competence to provide the proposed 
services.  The nature of the debit card service implies SmartStop, Inc., 
proposes to collect advance payments from customers.  Pursuant to statutes and 
rules governing registration applications and advance payment proposals, 
SmartStop, Inc., has submitted a satisfactory bond agreement for protection of 
those advance payments.  Initially, the bond agreement will be for $5,000 and 
will increase proportionally as customer base increases.  If SmartStop, Inc., 
ceases operations, SmartStop, Inc., will provide the insurer and the Commission 
lists of outstanding account numbers and balances within 48 hours.

  SmartStop, Inc., will limit the maximum denomination of each debit card 
purchased by residential customers to not more than $50 and debit cards 
purchased by business customers to not more than $200.  Within 15 days after 
June 30, 1998, and quarterly thereafter, SmartStop, Inc., will be required to 
submit to the Commission a report containing the following information specific 
to its State of Washington operations: (a) total outstanding debit card balance 
at the beginning of the reporting period (b) dollar amount of debit cards sold 
during the reporting period (c) depleted usage of debit cards during the 
reporting period and (d) total outstanding debit card balance at the end of the 
DOCKET NO. UT-971705 PAGE 1
reporting period.  Statements shall continue to be filed within 15 days after 
each 3-month period thereafter until Commission staff informs applicant such 
reports are no longer required.  Based upon this information, SmartStop, Inc., 
will adjust the amount of the bond to assure compliance with WAC 480-121-040.  
In addition, Commission staff may request current company financial 
information.  After one year’s administration of the bond agreement, the 
reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level if the company has 
maintained adequate levels in the bond agreement during the previous 12-month 
period.

  SmartStop, Inc., will state an unconditional money-back guarantee on the 
debit card or on supplemental material that will be provided at the time the 
debit card is purchased with a statement warning customers to safeguard their 
cards.  If SmartStop, Inc., goes out of business, it will provide refund 
information on the company's 800 phone number for its customers.  SmartStop, 
Inc., will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request.




FINDINGS

  THE COMMISSION FINDS:

  1. SmartStop, Inc., filed an application pursuant to the provisions of 
RCW 80.36.350 and the rules and regulations of the Commission for an order 
approving its application for registration as a telecommunications company.

  2. As to form, the application filed herein, as supplemented and amended, 
meets the requirements of RCW 80.36.350 and the rules and regulations of the 
Commission adopted pursuant thereto.

  3. The registration of SmartStop, Inc., as a telecommunications company is 
not inconsistent with the public interest.

  4. In this proceeding, the Commission in no way endorses the financial 
viability of applicant nor the investment quality of any securities it may 
issue.

O R D E R

  THE COMMISSION ORDERS:
  
  1. After the effective date of this order and subject to the conditions 
hereof, the application of SmartStop, Inc., filed with the Commission pursuant 
to the provisions of 
RCW 80.36.350 requesting an order authorizing registration as a 
telecommunications company to provide service to the public in this state is 
approved.

  2. The proposed tariff as filed on December 1, 1997, and amended in Exhibit 
G, attached to the application, is satisfactory.  Prior to supplying service to 
the public as a telecommunications company, SmartStop, Inc., shall file an 
initial tariff, within thirty days of the effective date of this order, with 
the Commission identical to the amended Exhibit G of the application.  The 
tariff shall bear an effective date not less than 30 days subsequent to the 
date of receipt by the Commission. 

  3. SmartStop, Inc., has submitted to the Commission a satisfactory bond 
agreement in the amount of $5,000.  As part of the bond agreement and in the 
event the company ceases operations, SmartStop, Inc., will within 48 hours 
provide to the bank and the Commission lists of outstanding account numbers and 
balances. 

  4. SmartStop, Inc., will limit the amount of debit cards to be purchased to 
not more than $50 increments for residential customers and $200 for business 
customers.

  5. Within 15 days after June 30, 1998, and quarterly thereafter, SmartStop, 
Inc., will be required to submit to the Commission a report containing the 
following information specific to its State of Washington operations: (a) total 
outstanding debit card balance at the beginning of the reporting period (b) 
dollar amount of debit cards sold during the reporting period (c) depleted 
usage of debit cards during the reporting period and (d) total outstanding 
debit card balance at the end of the DOCKET NO. UT-971705 PAGE 1
reporting period.  Statements shall continue to be filed within 15 days after 
each 3-month period thereafter until Commission staff informs applicant such 
reports are no longer required.  Based upon this information, SmartStop, Inc., 
will adjust the amount of the bond to assure compliance with WAC 480-121-040.  
In addition, Commission staff may request current company financial 
information.  After one year’s administration of the bond agreement, the 
reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level if the company has 
maintained adequate levels in the bond agreement during the previous 12-month 
period.

  6. SmartStop, Inc., shall state that there is a money-back guarantee on the 
debit cards and provide a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards.

  7. In the event the company ceases operations, SmartStop, Inc., will provide 
refund information on the company's 800 phone number for its customers for a 
minimum of six months.

  8. SmartStop, Inc., will provide a free call detail report to customers upon 
request.  

  9. Registration of SmartStop, Inc., as a telecommunications company shall not 
be construed as an endorsement of financial viability nor of the investment 
quality of any securities it may issue.

  10. As a telecommunications company providing service to the public in this 
state, SmartStop, Inc., is subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission under 
the provisions of Title 80 RCW and all rules and regulations of the Commission 
adopted pursuant thereto.

  11. SmartStop, Inc., is subject to compliance with WAC 480-120-141, alternate 
operator service rule. 

  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this     th day of  April, 1998.



      PAUL CURL, Acting Secretary