BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION In the Matter of the Supplemental Application and Petition of THE FURST GROUP, INC., For an Amendment to its Registration as a Telecommunications Company and Classification as a Competitive Telecommunications Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOCKET UT-930744 FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER AMENDING REGISTRATION, COMPETITIVE CLASSIFICATION, AND APPROVING PRICE LIST TO INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OF ADVANCE PAYMENTS BACKGROUND By supplemental petition filed November 24, 1999, in Docket UT-930744, The Furst Group, Inc., (Furst) seeks to amend its competitive classification and registration authority 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. The supplemental application for registration, competitive classification petition, and initial price list were brought before the Commission at its regularly scheduled open public meeting of December 22, 1999. DISCUSSION Furst proposes to amend its registration authority with the Commission as a telecommunications company to include the collection of advance payments. Services specified in Exhibit A but not included in its initial price list may not be offered until applicant amends its price list to include the description of service with rates and charges. In support of its petition, Furst asserts that its services compete with other interexchange and local exchange carriers telecommunication services. Furst states that customers have readily available equivalent alternatives and that there are no captive customers of the Company’s services. Furst is a New Jersey corporation, headquartered in Shamong, New Jersey, and is owned by numerous individuals. Rates, terms, and conditions set forth in the proposed price list are structured similarly to rates filed by other interexchange and local exchange carriers for calls placed in the relevant market. Furst has provided information showing that it meets the requirements of RCW 80.36.350. Pursuant to statutes and rules governing registration applications and advance payment proposals, Furst has proposed a satisfactory bond agreement for protection of those advance payments. Initially, the bond agreement will be for $5,000 and will increase proportionally as the outstanding amount of advance payments increases. Furst will notify the Commission at least 30 days prior to terminating its operations, and provide the insurer and the Commission notice in writing and within 24 hours of ceasing its operations with its list of all outstanding account numbers and customer balances. Within 15 days after March 31, 2000, and each calendar quarter thereafter, Furst will be required to submit to the Commission a report containing the following information specific to its state of Washington operations: (a) total outstanding debit card balance at the beginning of the reporting period; (b) dollar amount of debit cards sold during the reporting period; (c) depleted usage of debit cards during the reporting period; and (d) total outstanding debit card balance at the end of the reporting period. Statements shall continue to be filed within 15 days after each 3-month period thereafter until the applicant is notified in writing by the Commission that such reports are no longer required. Based on this information, Furst will adjust the amount of the bond to ensure compliance with WAC 480-120-058. In addition, Commission Staff may request current company financial information. After one year’s administration of the bond agreement, the reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level, upon request by Furst and authorization by the Commission, if the company demonstrates that it has maintained adequate levels in the bond agreement during the previous 12-month period. Furst shall state an unconditional, money-back guarantee on the debit card or in supplemental materials provided at the time the debit card is purchased, and include a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards. If Furst ceases its operations, it must provide refund information to its customers through the company’s “800" phone number for a minimum of six months after ceasing operations. Furst will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request. 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 interests, 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, and RCW 80.36.350. The ultimate issues are whether the proposed amendments to Furst’s registration, competitive classification, and proposed price list should be approved. Based on the entire record and the file in this matter, the Commission makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. Furst filed a supplemental application to amend its registration authority as a telecommunications company and classification as a competitive telecommunications company pursuant to the provisions of RCW 80.36.350 and 80.36.320, to include the collection of advance payments. 2. As to form, the supplemental application and petition meet the requirements of RCW 80.36.350 and 80.36.320, and comply with the Commission’s rules and regulations. 3. The amendment of the registration of Furst to include the collection of advance payments as a telecommunications company is not inconsistent with the public interest. 4. In this proceeding, the Commission in no way endorses the financial viability of applicant nor the investment quality of any securities it may issue. 5. Alternative providers of service to that of Furst include, but are not limited to, U S WEST Communications, Inc., GTE Northwest Incorporated, MCIWorldCom, Inc., and Sprint Communications Company L.P. All services are fully available from alternative providers in the relevant market. 6. The relevant market is the state of Washington. 7. Furst has no captive customer base. 8. The services offered are subject to effective competition. 9. Furst should be permitted to provide services under its proposed price list. 10. Furst requested waivers of certain laws and rules relating to telecommunications services. The laws and rules for which waivers should be granted are listed in 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 Furst. 2. Furst should be authorized to include the collection of advance payments as a telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.350 and classified as a competitive telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.320(1). 3. Furst should be permitted to provide services under price lists promulgated under RCW 80.36.320 (2). 4. Furst should be granted waivers of the laws and rules listed in Appendix A. ORDER THE COMMISSION ORDERS: 1. Effective on the date of this Order and subject to any conditions imposed, the Commission approves the supplemental application of The Furst Group, Inc., requesting an order amending registration authorization as a telecommunications company to provide service to the public in this state. 2. The Commission approves the petition of The Furst Group, Inc., for classification as a competitive telecommunications company; and grants a waiver of the laws and rules listed in the attached Appendix A. 3. The Commission approves the proposed price list of The Furst Group, Inc., for rates and services. 4. Registration of The Furst Group, Inc., as a telecommunications company shall not be construed as an endorsement of financial viability or of the investment quality of any securities it may issue. 5. As a telecommunications company providing service to the public in this state, The Furst Group, Inc., is subject to the jurisdiction of this Commission under the provisions of Title 80 RCW and all rules and regulations adopted by the Commission. 6. The Furst Group, Inc., is authorized to offer rates and services pursuant to the 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 that do not have rate impact, personal notice to customers is not required. To comply with the statutory notice requirement, The Furst Group, Inc. , may publish notice of price reductions or changes in terms and conditions of service that do not have rate impact by a display advertisement in such newspaper(s) as are geographically situated to be circulated over the Company's service area. 7. The bond agreement filed by The Furst Group, Inc., in the amount of $5,000 is sufficient to initiate operations. The Furst Group, Inc., shall adjust the amount of the bond to ensure compliance with WAC 480-120-058. As part of the bond agreement and in the event the company ceases operations, The Furst Group, Inc., shall provide notice, in writing and within 24 hours to the insurer and the Commission to include a list of outstanding account numbers and balances. 8. Within 15 days after March 31, 2000, and each calendar quarter thereafter, The Furst Group, Inc., shall submit to the Commission a report containing the following information specific to its state of Washington operations: (a) total outstanding debit card balance at the beginning of the reporting period; (b) dollar amount of debit cards sold during the reporting period; (c) depleted usage of debit cards during the reporting period; and (d) total outstanding debit card balance at the end of the reporting period. Applicant shall continue to file statements within 15 days after each 3-month period thereafter until notified in writing by the Commission that such reports are no longer required. Based on this information, The Furst Group, Inc., shall adjust the amount of the bond to ensure compliance with WAC 480-120-058. In addition, Commission Staff may request, and applicant shall supply, current company financial information. After one year’s administration of the bond agreement, the reporting requirement may be modified to a semi-annual level, upon request by The Furst Group, Inc., and authorization by the Commission, if the company demonstrates that it has maintained adequate levels in the bond agreement during the previous 12-month period. 9. The Furst Group, Inc., shall state an unconditional money-back guarantee on the face of the debit card or on supplemental material that must be provided at the time the debit card is purchased with a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards. 10. In the event the Company ceases operations, The Furst Group, Inc., shall provide refund information to its customers on the company’s “800" phone number for a minimum of six months. 11. The Furst Group, Inc., shall provide a free call-detail report to customers upon request. 12. The Commission retains jurisdiction over the subject matter and the Company to effectuate the terms of this Order. DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 22nd day of December, 1999. WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION CAROLE J. WASHBURN Secretary DOCKET UT-930744 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 interests, transfer of property WAC 480-120-046 Services offered WAC 480-120-131 Reports of accidents