BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 
                          
In the Matter of the Petition of:                     )
                                                         )                  
DOCKET UT-001383
Z-Tel Communications, Inc.,     )                  
For a Limited Waiver of Administrative Rules   )          ORDER GRANTING 
LIMITED 
................................................................................
.. )                  WAIVER OF RULES
BACKGROUND
         On March 24, 2000, Z-Tel Communications, Inc., filed a petition with 
the Commission requesting waiver of the requirements of WAC 480-120-139(5) 
pertaining to offering preferred carrier freezes to local exchange customers. 
         The waiver will apply to only Z-Tel's local exchange service. The 
petition does not request a waiver of the requirement to offer the preferred 
carrier freeze for intralata and interlata toll services. 
         WAC 480-120-139(5), adopted November 30, 1999, and effective March 1, 
2000, requires local exchange companies to offer a preferred carrier freeze to 
all of their customers for local exchange, interlata, and intralata services. 
Z-Tel requests a waiver for local exchange services only because industry 
standards, guidelines and compatible technology are not in place to implement 
local carrier freezes in a consistent and cost-effective manner. 
         The Commission has determined that Z-Tel has limited residential and 
business customers in Washington State. Additionally, the Commission has 
received no customer complaints regarding Z-Tel switching customers'  local 
exchange carrier without proper authorization. 
         This matter was brought before the Commission at its regularly 
scheduled open meeting on October 11, 2000. The Commissioners, having been 
fully advised in the matter, and having determined the following order to be 
consistent with the public interest, directed the Secretary to enter the 
following order and related provisions. 
FINDINGS OF FACT 
THE COMMISSION FINDS: 
                  1. Z-Tel Communications, Inc., is a public service company 
subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission under the provisions of Chapter 
80.36 RCW. 
                2. It appears upon investigation that the request for waiver of 
Commission rules by Z-Tel Communications, Inc., is reasonable and consistent 
with the public interest and should therefore be granted until March 10, 2001. 
                            ORDER 
                  1. After effective date of this Order and subject to the 
conditions hereof, the petition of Z-Tel Communications, Inc., requesting 
waiver of WAC 480-120-139(5) is hereby granted until March 10, 2001. 
                  DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 11th day of 
October, 2000. 
                  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION 
                                                     
                                                     
                                                     CAROLE J. WASHBURN, 
Secretary