BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION In the Matter of the Application and Petition of METRACOM CORPORATION For Registration as a Telecommunications Company and Classification as a Competitive Telecommunications Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOCKET UT-980653 ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR COMPETITIVE CLASSIFICATION AND APPROVING PRICE LIST By application and petition filed May 5, 1998, in Dockets UT-980652 and UT-980653, Metracom Corporation (Metracom) seeks registration as a telecommunications company, classification as a competitive telecommunications company, and approval of its proposed price list pursuant to RCW 80.36.350 and 80.36.320. On May 27, 1998 the Commission issued an order in Docket UT-980652 registering Metracom as a telecommunications company. Metracom proposes to offer resold direct dialed long distance, inbound 800/888 and travel card services to the public. In support of its petition, Metracom alleges inter alia that its services compete with other interexchange carriers’ telecommunication services. Metracom states that customers have readily available equivalent alternatives and that there are no captive customers of the company’s services. Metracom is a Massachusetts corporation, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and is owned by George Pappas, Kevin Estes and John Bogaty. Rates, terms, and conditions set forth in the proposed price list are structured similarly to rates filed by other interexchange carriers for calls placed in the relevant market. Metracom has provided information showing that it meets the requirements of RCW 80.36.350. Applicant does not propose to collect advance payments or deposits from customers. In conjunction with classification, the company is seeking waiver of: RCW 80.04.300 Budgets to be filed by companies--Supplementary budgets RCW 80.04.310 Commission’s control over expenditures RCW 80.04.320 Budget rules RCW 80.04.330 Effect of unauthorized expenditure--Emergencies RCW 80.04.360 Earnings in excess of reasonable rate--Consideration in fixing rates RCW 80.04.460 Investigation of accidents RCW 80.04.520 Lease of utility facilities RCW 80.36.100 Tariff schedules to be filed and open to public RCW 80.36.110 Tariff changes--Statutory notice--Exception Chapter 80.08 RCW Securities (except RCW 80.08.140) Chapter 80.12 RCW Transfers of Property Chapter 80.16 RCW Affiliated interests Chapter 480-80 WAC Tariffs Chapter 480-140 WAC Budgets Chapter 480-143 WAC Transfers of Property Chapter 480-146 WAC Securities and affiliated interests WAC 480-120-026 Tariffs WAC 480-120-031 Accounting WAC 480-120-032 Accounting-Political information and political education activities WAC 480-120-036 Finance--Securities, affiliated interest, transfer of property WAC 480-120-046 Services offered WAC 480-120-131 Reports of accidents Rules invoked include WAC 480-120-022, WAC 480-120-023, WAC 480-120-024, and WAC 480-120-025. Statutes invoked include RCW 80.36.320. The ultimate issues are whether Metracom should be classified as a competitive telecom- munications company, its proposed price list should be approved, and the extent to which it should be relieved of regulatory requirements to which it would otherwise be subject. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. Metracom is registered with the Commission as a telecommunica-tions company to provide resold direct dialed long distance, inbound 800/888 and travel card services to the public. DOCKET UT-980653 PAGE 1 2. Metracom filed a petition for classification as a competitive tele-communications company pursuant to the provisions of RCW 80.36.320. 3. As to form, the petition meets the requirements of RCW 80.36.320, and the Commission’s rules and regulations. 4. Alternative providers of service to that of Metracom include AT&T Communications, Inc., U S WEST Communications, Inc., MCI Communications Corporation, and Sprint Communications Company. All services are fully available from alternative providers in the relevant market. 5. The relevant market is the state of Washington. 6. Metracom has no captive customer base. 7. The services offered are subject to effective competition. 8. Metracom should be permitted to provide services under its proposed price list. 9. Metracom requested waivers of certain laws and rules relating to telecommunications services. The laws and rules for which waivers should be granted are listed on Appendix A, incorporated by this reference and made a part of this Order. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this classification proceeding and the parties. 2. Metracom should be classified as a competitive telecommunica-tions company pursuant to RCW 80.36.320(1). 3. Metracom should be permitted to provide services under price lists pursuant to RCW 80.36.320 (2). These services will not include alternate operator services as defined in WAC 480-120-141. 4. Metracom should be granted waiver of the laws and rules listed in Appendix A; waiver of laws and rules requested that are not included in Appendix A should be denied. O R D E R THE COMMISSION ORDERS: 1. The petition of Metracom Corporation for classification as a competitive telecommunications company is approved; waiver of the laws and rules listed in the attached Appendix A is granted. 2. The proposed price list of Metracom Corporation for rates and services, is approved. 3. Metracom Corporation is authorized to offer rates and services pursuant to price list in the format prescribed by the Commission; the price list approved in this proceeding, and subsequent changes to that price list, become effective only after ten days notice to the Commission and to customers. In the event of a price list reduction or of a change in terms and conditions which do not have rate impact, personal notice to customers will not be required. The Commission does not have authority to waive the statutory notice requirement, however, Metracom Corporation will have the option to publish notice of price reductions or changes in terms and conditions of service which do not have rate impact by a display advertisement in such news- paper (s) as are geographically situated to be circulated over the company's service area. 4. The services offered by Metracom Corporation are not to include alternate operator services as defined in WAC 480-120-141. 5. The Commission retains jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties to effectuate the terms of this Order. DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this day of June, 1998. WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION CAROLE J. WASHBURN Secretary DOCKET UT-980653 APPENDIX A RCW 80.04.300 Budgets to be filed by companies--Supplementary budgets RCW 80.04.310 Commission’s control over expenditures RCW 80.04.320 Budget rules RCW 80.04.330 Effect of unauthorized expenditure--Emergencies RCW 80.04.360 Earnings in excess of reasonable rate--Consideration in fixing rates RCW 80.04.460 Investigation of accidents RCW 80.04.520 Lease of utility facilities RCW 80.36.100 Tariff schedules to be filed and open to public RCW 80.36.110 Tariff changes--Statutory notice--Exception Chapter 80.08 RCW Securities (except RCW 80.08.140, State not obligated) Chapter 80.12 RCW Transfers of Property Chapter 80.16 RCW Affiliated interests Chapter 480-80 WAC Tariffs Chapter 480-140 WAC Budgets Chapter 480-143 WAC Transfers of Property Chapter 480-146 WAC Securities and affiliated interests WAC 480-120-026 Tariffs WAC 480-120-031 Accounting WAC 480-120-032 Accounting-Political information and political education activities WAC 480-120-036 Finance--Securities, affiliated interest, transfer of property WAC 480-120-046 Services offered WAC 480-120-131 Reports of accidents