BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


In the Matter of the Petition of

GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION

For Waiver of Washington Administrative Rules.
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		DOCKET NO. UT-990549
		ORDER GRANTING WAIVER OF RULES WAC 480-120-138 SECTIONS (3)(b), (c), (e) and 
(f), 4(a), (b), (d), (e), (g) and (h); (7) and WAC 480-120-141 (3)


BACKGROUND

  On April 7, 1999, Global Tel*Link Corporation (Global) filed a petition 
requesting waiver of certain administrative rules.  Global requests waiver of 
the following rules of the Washington Administrative Code (AWAC@) regarding the 
provision of operator and payphone service to the limited and unique customer 
base of inmates in correctional facilities. The waiver will apply only to 
services from inmate phones located at correctional facilities.

  WAC 480-120-138 sections (3)(b), (c), (e) and (f); Access.  Pay phones must 
provide access to:

(b) Emergency calling;
(c) Operator;
(e) All available subscriber toll-free services; and
(f) All available interexchange carriers, including the local exchange company.

  WAC 480-120-138 sections (4)(a), (b), (d),(e) (g) and (h) Disclosure B What 
must be posted.

(a) The rate for local calls;
(b) Notice that directory assistance charges may apply, and to ask the operator 
for rates;
(d) The emergency number (911);
(e) The name, address, phone number, and unified business identifier (UBI) 
number of the owner or operator;
(g) The name, address, and without-charge number of all presubscribed operator 
service providers, as registered with the commission; and
(h) Notice to callers that they can access other long distance carriers.

  WAC 480-120-138(7) Telephone directories.  The provider of the pay phone 
access line must furnish without charge one current telephone directory each 
year for each pay phone access line.

  WAC 480-120-141(3) Operator Service Providers.  Access.  Pay phones must 
provide access to the services identified in WAC 480-120-138(3).

  The administrators of correctional facilities request that one carrier 
exclusively provide its operator services.  For security purposes, inmates are 
not allowed to access live operators.  This prevents harassment, fraud and 
threats to sensitive parties.  Global currently provides collect-only operator 
services to its facilities in Washington through the use of automated 
operators.  This allows the administrators the control they need over inmate 
calling in an economically-sound fashion.  Each of Global=s facilities request 
collect-only call types.  Global=s tariffed rates are billed to the end user 
through the use of direct, local exchange carrier, or third party billing.  
Call screening and blocking of all except collect calls from a prison facility 
are essential in order for the facility to maximize control and minimize 
fraud.  Screening and blocking services can be used to eliminate inappropriate 
calls to judges, sheriffs, witnesses and other sensitive parties.

  This matter was brought before the Commission at its regularly scheduled open 
meeting on October 25, 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

THE COMMISSION FINDS:

  1. Global Tel*Link Corporation is a public service company subject to the
jurisdiction of this Commission under the provisions of Chapter 80.36 RCW.

  2. These same rules have been waived on several previous occasions for the
same type of service.

  3. The request for waiver of Commission rules by Global Tel*Link Corporation
is reasonable and consistent with the public interest and should therefore be 
granted.

ORDER

  1. The petition of Global Tel*Link Corporation requesting waiver of the
following Commission rules is hereby granted, applicable only to applicant=s 
limited access inmate phones.  WAC 480-120-138(3)(b), (c), (e) and (f); 
480-120-138(4)(a), (b), (d), (e) (g) and (h); 480-120-138(7); 480-120-141(3)

2. This order shall in no way affect the authority of this Commission over 
rates,
service or accounts, evaluations, estimates, or determination of cost or any 
matters whatsoever that may come before it, nor shall anything herein be 
construed as an acquiescence in any estimate or determination of cost or any 
valuation of property claimed or asserted.
  
       Dated at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 25th day of October, 
2000.

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



CAROLE J. WASHBURN
Secretary