BEFORE  THE  WASHINGTON  UTILITIES  AND  TRANSPORTATION  COMMISSION


In the Matter of the Application    ) DOCKET UT-980506
of Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, Inc.,  )
for an Order Authorizing    )
the Registration of Applicant   ) AUTHORIZING
as a Telecommunications Company     ) REGISTRATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .  )


  On April 2, 1998, Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, Inc., (C & W Card 
Services) filed an application for registration as a telecommunications company 
pursuant to RCW 80.36.350.  Applicant proposes to offer resold direct dialed 
long distance, inbound 800/888, travel card, and debit card services to the 
public.  C & W Card Services requested extensions for additional time to 
complete its application for registration by letters to the Commission dated 
May 4, 1998, May 13, 1998, May 26, 1998, June 15, 1998, July 7, 1998, July 21, 
1998, August 10, 1998, September 24, 1998, October 23, 1998, and November 6, 
1998. 

  C & W Card Services is a Utah corporation, headquartered in Provo, Utah. The 
corporation is wholly owned by numerous individuals. 

  C & W Card Services has provided information showing that it meets the 
requirements of RCW 80.36.350.  The nature of the debit card service implies C 
& W Card Services proposes to collect advance payments from customers.  
Pursuant to statutes and rules governing registration applications and advance 
payment proposals, C & W Card Services has submitted a satisfactory bond 
agreement for protection of those advance payments.  Initially, the bond 
agreement will be for $10,000 and will increase proportionally as customer base 
increases.  If C & W Card Services ceases operations, 
C & W Card Services will provide the insurer and the Commission lists of 
outstanding account numbers and balances within 48 hours.

  C & W Card Services 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 
March 31, 1999, and quarterly thereafter, C & W Card Services 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 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, C 
& W Card Services 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.

  C & W Card Services 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 C & W Card Services goes out of business, it will provide refund 
information on the company's 800 phone number for its customers.  C & W Card 
Services will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request.

FINDINGS

  THE COMMISSION FINDS:

  1. C & W Card Services 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 C & W Card Services 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 Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, 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 April 2, 1998, and amended in Exhibit G, 
attached to the application, is satisfactory.  Prior to supplying service to 
the public as a telecommunications company,  Cable & Wireless Global Card 
Services, Inc., shall file an initial tariff 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.  Failure to file an initial tariff within 30 days from the 
effective date of this Order and prior to supplying service to the public may 
result in the Commission taking action to cancel Cable & Wireless Global Card 
Services, Inc.’s registration as a telecommunications company in the state of 
Washington.

  3. Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, Inc., has submitted to the 
Commission a satisfactory bond agreement in the amount of $10,000.  As part of 
the bond agreement and in the event the company ceases operations, Cable & 
Wireless Global Card Services, Inc., will within 48 hours provide to the bank 
and the Commission lists of outstanding account numbers and balances. 

  4. Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, Inc., will limit the amount of 
debit cards to be purchased of not more than $50 increments for residential 
customers and $200 for business customers.

  5. Within 15 days after March 31, 1999, and quarterly thereafter, Cable & 
Wireless Global Card Services, 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 
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, Cable & Wireless 
Global Card Services, 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. Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, 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, Cable & Wireless Global Card 
Services, Inc., will provide refund information on the company's 800 phone 
number for its customers for a minimum of six months.

  8. Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, Inc., will provide a free call 
detail report to customers upon request.  

  9. Registration of Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, 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, Cable & Wireless Global Card Services, 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.

  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 25th day of November, 1998.



      CAROLE J. WASHBURN, Secretary