BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

In the Matter of Approving The Department of Social and Health Services 
Washington Telephone Assistance Program Rate for Low- Income Residents of 
Tribal Lands.
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	)	DOCKET UT-001629
		ORDER SETTING CLIENT PAYMENT RATES ON TRIBAL LANDS

BACKGROUND
1          The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has requested an 
Order setting the Washington   Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP) client 
payment rate on tribal lands to comply with recent Federal  Communications 
Commission (FCC) orders and local exchange company tariffs that comply with 
those FCC  orders. 
2          The federal discount program, Lifeline, and the WTAP program are 
administered in Washington by DSHS.  The purpose of this order is to set the 
WTAP rate on tribal lands to conform to new FCC discount   requirements. The 
additional discounts will be funded by the FCC, not by the WTAP fund.
3          Prior to October 1, 2000, the FCC required eligible 
telecommunications carriers (ETCs) to provide $7.85 in  discounts to low-income 
consumers when certain state matching discounts were also provided to 
customers.  Effective October 1, 2000, the FCC required ETCs to provide an 
additional discount of up to $25.00 per  month to low-income residents of 
tribal lands, but limited the discount to an amount that would not reduce the  
monthly payment for local service below $1.00 per month. Local exchange 
companies that are ETCs have  filed tariffs to implement the discounts, but the 
WTAP rate has not been reduced.
4          This matter was brought before the Commission at its regularly 
scheduled open meeting on November 8,  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.
ORDER
5          THE COMMISSION ORDERS THAT the client payment rate is set at $1.00 
for qualifying residents of tribal  lands.
         DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 8th day of November, 
2000.
        
                                                     CAROLE J. WASHBURN
                                                     Executive Secretary