BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION



In the Matter of the Petition of   ) DOCKET UT-980369
CenturyTel of Washington, Inc.            )
and CenturyTel of Inter Island, Inc.         )
d/b/a CenturyTel for Approval of  )
IntraLATA Presubscription   )
Implementation Plan.     ) ORDER APPROVING 
                                 )          PETITION
      )
............................................................... 


BACKGROUND

       By petition filed October 8, 1998, CenturyTel, Inc., (CenturyTel) seeks 
approval in Docket UT-980369 of its IntraLATA Presubscription Implementation 
Plan (Plan). The petition is filed pursuant to The Telecommunications Act of 
1996 (Telecom Act), and by agreement with Commission Staff.
   
  The Plan includes a proposal that explains how CenturyTel will offer 
intraLATA toll dialing parity in the state, a proposal for timely notification 
of its subscribers, and the methods it proposes to use to enable subscribers to 
select an intraLATA toll service provider.

       CenturyTel proposes to implement a full 2-PIC (Primary Interexchange 
Carrier) methodology for intraLATA presubscription.  A $5.00 PIC change charge 
will be incurred and billed to the customer for each eligible line when an 
intraLATA PIC change is made.  This charge will be waived for the initial 
selection occurring within the first 120 days following implementation of the 
Plan.  

CenturyTel also proposes a $25.00 slamming charge which will be applied to 
interexchange carriers who change an end user's intraLATA PIC without proper 
authorization from the end user.

FINDINGS OF FACT
   
 1.  The Commission is an agency of the state of Washington vested by statute 
with the authority to regulate the rates, rules, regulations, practices, 
accounts,
securities, and transfers of public service companies, including 
telecommunications companies.

   Docket UT-980369        Page 1
 2.  Section 261(c) [47 U.S.C. 261] of the Telecom Act provides that a State 
may impose requirements on a telecommunications carrier for intrastate services 
that are necessary to further competition in the provision of telephone 
exchange service or exchange access, as long as the State's requirements are 
not inconsistent with the Telecom Act or the FCC's regulations to implement the 
Telecom Act.

 3.  Section 251(b)(3) [47 U.S.C. 251] of the Telecom Act requires all local 
exchange carriers to provide dialing parity to competing providers of telephone 
exchange service and telephone toll service.

 4.  47 C.F.R. §§ 51.209-51.215 sets forth the interstate, intraLATA toll 
dialing parity requirements of all local exchange carriers.

 5.  CenturyTel is engaged in the business of furnishing telecommunications 
services, including, but not limited to, basic local exchange service within 
the state of Washington.

 6.  CenturyTel filed a petition seeking approval of its Plan to implement 
dialing parity in its operating area within the state of Washington.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

      1.  The Commission has jurisdiction over CenturyTel and the subject 
matter of this petition under RCW 80.01.040(3) and Section 261(c) [47 U.S.C. 
261].

 2.  The petition is consistent with the public interest, convenience, and 
necessity.

 3.  The petition meets the requirements set forth in  47 U.S.C. Section 
251(b)(3) and 47 C.F.R. §§ 51.209-51.215.  

 4.  The requirements imposed pursuant to the petition are not inconsistent 
with the Telecom Act or the FCC's regulations to implement the Telecom Act.


ORDER

  THE COMMISSION ORDERS That the petition by CenturyTel for approval of its 
IntraLATA Presubscription Implementation Plan is approved.



  DATED at Olympia, Washington and effective this 28th day of October, 1998.    
   
  WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION


      
      ANNE LEVINSON, Chair



      RICHARD HEMSTAD, Commissioner



      WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner