DOCKET UT-971025 Page 1 BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION In the Matter of the Application ) DOCKET UT-971025 of INFO USA, d/b/a "THE GO CARD" ) for an order Authorizing ) AUTHORIZING the Registration as a ) REGISTRATION Telecommunications Company ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .) On June 18, 1997, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" filed an application for registration as a telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.350. Applicant proposes to offer prepaid calling card service to the public. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" is a Washington individual proprietorship, headquartered in Auburn, Washington. The individual proprietorship is wholly-owned by John C. Schultz and/or Rita J. Schultz. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" has provided information showing that it possesses adequate financial resources, and technical competence to provide debit card long distance service. The nature of the debit card service implies INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" proposes to collect advance payments from customers. Pursuant to statutes and rules governing registration applications and advance payment proposals, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" has proposed a satisfactory bond arrangement for protection of those advance payments. Initially, the bond will be for $1,000 and will increase as customer base increases proportionally. If INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" ceases operations, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will provide the insurer and the Commission lists of outstanding account numbers and balances within 48 hours. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will limit the denomination size of debit cards to not more than $50 to residential customers. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will give the Commission quarterly reports listing outstanding debit calling card account balances and current company financial information. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will adjust the amount held in bond based on this data. After one year's administration of the bond arrangement, the reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level if the company has maintained adequate levels in the bond account during the previous 12-month period. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will state an unconditional money-back guarantee on the debit calling card or on supplemental material that will be provided at the time the debit calling card is purchased with a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards. If INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" goes out of business, it will provide refund information on the company's 800 phone number for its customers. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request. FINDINGS THE COMMISSION FINDS: 1. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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 INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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 INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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 June 18, 1997, and amended in Exhibit G, attached to the application, is satisfactory. Prior to supplying service to the public as a telecommunications company, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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. 3. Prior to the effective date of the initial tariff, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" shall submit to the Commission a bond arrangement identical to the document filed as amended Exhibit F. The bond shall be for $1,000. As part of the bond arrangement and in the event the company ceases operations, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will within 48 hours provide to the insurer and the Commission lists of outstanding account numbers and balances. 4. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will limit the amount of debit calling cards to be purchased to not more than $50 increments for residential customers. 5. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will submit to the Commission quarterly financial data listing the total outstanding debit calling card balance and current company financial information determined by the Commission. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will adjust the amount held in bond based on this data. After completion of one year's administration of the bond account, the reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level if staff determines that the company has maintained a sufficient level in the bond account during the previous 12-month period. 6. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" shall state that there is a money-back guarantee on the debit calling cards or on supplemental material that will be provided at the time the debit calling card is purchased and provide a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards. 7. In the event the company ceases operations, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will provide refund information on the company's 800 phone number for its customers for a minimum of six months. 8. INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request. 9. Registration of INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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, INFO USA, d/b/a "The Go Card" 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 9th day of July, 1997. STEVE McLELLAN, Secretary