BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION In the Matter of the Application and Petition of TELEDISTANCE, INC., For Registration as a Telecommunications Company and Classification as a Competitive Telecommunications Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOCKET UT-000248 ORDER AUTHORIZING REGISTRATION AND GRANTING PETITION FOR COMPETITIVE CLASSIFICATION BACKGROUND By petition filed February 24, 2000, in Docket UT-000248, TeleDistance, Inc., (TeleDistance) seeks registration as a telecommunications company and classification as a competitive telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.350 and 80.36.320. TeleDistance also filed an initial price list. TeleDistance requested an extension of time from the Commission by letter dated March 13, 2000, to finalize its application and petition. DISCUSSION TeleDistance proposes to register with the Commission as a telecommunications company to offer the services specified in Exhibit A of its application. 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, TeleDistance asserts that its services compete with other interexchange and local exchange carriers’ telecommunications services. TeleDistance states that customers have readily available, equivalent alternatives and that there are no captive customers of the company’s services. TeleDistance is a Delaware corporation, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and is owned by TeleDistance Holdings, Inc. Rates, terms, and conditions set forth in the initial price list are structured similarly to rates filed by other interexchange and local exchange carriers for services in the relevant market. TeleDistance 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, TeleDistance has proposed a satisfactory bond agreement for protection of those advance payments. Initially, the bond agreement will be for $1,400,000 and will increase proportionally as the outstanding amount of advance payments increases. TeleDistance 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 September 30, 2000, and each calendar quarter thereafter, TeleDistance 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, TeleDistance will adjust the amount of the bond to assure 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 TeleDistance 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. TeleDistance 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 TeleDistance 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. TeleDistance will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request. Applicant does not propose to collect deposits from customers. 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 TeleDistance should be registered as a telecommunications company, whether it should be classified as a competitive telecommunications company, and the extent to which it should be relieved of regulatory requirements to which it would otherwise be subject. This matter was brought before the Commission at its May 24, 2000, regularly scheduled open meeting, recessed and continued to May 30, 2000. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. TeleDistance filed an application for registration as a telecommunications company and a petition for classification as a competitive telecommunications company pursuant to the provisions of RCW 80.36.350 and 80.36.320, to provide the services specified in Exhibit A of its application. 2. As to form, the 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 registration of TeleDistance 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 TeleDistance 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. TeleDistance has no captive customer base. 8. TeleDistance should be permitted to provide services under price list. 9. TeleDistance requested waivers of certain laws and rules relating to telecommunications services. The laws and rules for which waivers should be granted are listed on 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 TeleDistance. 2. The services offered are subject to effective competition. 3. TeleDistance should be registered as a telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.350, and classified as a competitive telecommunications company pursuant to RCW 80.36.320(1). 4. TeleDistance should be permitted to provide services under price lists promulgated under RCW 80.36.320 (2). 5. TeleDistance 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 application of TeleDistance, Inc., requesting an order authorizing registration as a telecommunications company to provide service to the public in this state. 2. The Commission approves the petition of TeleDistance, Inc., for classification as a competitive telecommunications company; and grants a waiver of the laws and rules listed in the attached Appendix A. 3. TeleDistance, Inc., shall be permitted to provide services under price list. 4. Registration of TeleDistance, 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, TeleDistance, 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. TeleDistance, Inc., is authorized to offer rates and services pursuant to the price list in the format prescribed by the Commission. 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. Any price list filed by TeleDistance, Inc., and subsequent changes to these price lists, shall 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, TeleDistance, 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. TeleDistance, Inc., must comply, as specified, with the requirements of WAC 480-120-141, Operator service providers rule. 8. TeleDistance, Inc., is not authorized to collect deposits from customers. 9. The bond agreement in the amount of $1,400,000 filed by TeleDistance, Inc., is sufficient to initiate operations. TeleDistance, Inc., shall adjust the amount of the bond to assure compliance with WAC 480-120-058. As part of the bond agreement and in the event the company ceases operations, TeleDistance, 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. 10. Within 15 days after September 30, 2000, and each calendar quarter thereafter, TeleDistance, 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, TeleDistance, Inc., shall adjust the amount of the bond to assure 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 TeleDistance, 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. 11. TeleDistance, Inc., shall state an unconditional money-back guarantee on the face of the debit card or on supplemental material that will be provided at the time the debit card is purchased with a statement warning customers to safeguard their cards. 12. In the event the Company ceases operations, TeleDistance, Inc., shall provide refund information to its customers on the company’s “800" phone number for a minimum of six months. 13. TeleDistance, Inc., shall provide a free call-detail report to customers upon request. 14. The Commission retains jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties to effectuate the terms of this Order. DATED at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 30th day of May, 2000. WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MARILYN SHOWALTER, Chairwoman WILLIAM R. GILLIS, Commissioner DOCKET NO. UT-000248 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