BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION In the Matter of the Supplemental Application and Petition of CASH BACK REBATES LD.COM, INC., f/k/a COMMON CONCERNS, INC., For an Amendment to its Registration as a Telecommunications Company and Classification as a Competitive Telecommunications Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) DOCKET UT-960504 FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER AMENDING REGISTRATION, COMPETITIVE CLASSIFICATION, AND APPROVING PRICE LIST TO INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OF ADVANCE PAYMENTS BACKGROUND By supplemental petition filed October 29, 1999, in Docket UT-960504, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., f/k/a Common Concerns, Inc., (Cash Back) seeks to amend its 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 November 15, 1999. DISCUSSION Cash Back proposes to amend its registration authority with the Commission as a telecommunications company to include the collection of advance payments. In support of its petition, Cash Back asserts that its services compete with other interexchange telecommunication services. Cash Back states that customers have readily available equivalent alternatives and that there are no captive customers of the Company’s services. Cash Back is a Florida corporation, headquartered in Passaic, New Jersey, and is owned by Tom Vrabel. Rates, terms, and conditions set forth in the proposed price list are structured similarly to rates filed by other interexchange carriers for calls placed in the relevant market. Cash Back 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, Cash Back has proposed a satisfactory bond agreement for protection of those advance payments. Initially, the bond agreement will be for $1,000 and will increase proportionally as the outstanding amount of advance payments increases. Cash Back 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 December 31, 1999, and each calendar quarter thereafter, Cash Back 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 DOCKET UT-960504 PAGE 1 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, Cash Back 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 Cash Back 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. Cash Back 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 Cash Back 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. Cash Back will provide a free call detail report to customers upon request. Cash Back has provided information showing that it meets the requirements of RCW 80.36.350. Applicant does not propose to collect deposits from customers or provide local exchange service or alternate operator services. 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 Cash Back’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 DOCKET UT-960504 PAGE 1 1. Cash Back 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 Cash Back 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 Cash Back include, but are not limited to, 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. Cash Back has no captive customer base. 8. The services offered are subject to effective competition. 9. Cash Back should be permitted to provide services under its proposed price list. 10. Cash Back 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 Cash Back. 2. Cash Back should be authorized to include the collection of deposits and 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. Cash Back should be permitted to provide services under price lists promulgated under RCW 80.36.320 (2). These services will not include collecting deposits or providing alternate operator services or local exchange service. 4. Cash Back 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 Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., for rates and services. 4. Registration of Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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. Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., in the amount of $1,000 is sufficient to initiate operations. Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 December 31, 1999, and each calendar quarter thereafter, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 DOCKET UT-960504 PAGE 5 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, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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 Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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. Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, 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, Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., shall provide refund information to its customers on the company’s “800" phone number for a minimum of six months. DOCKET UT-960504 PAGE 6 11. Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., shall provide a free call-detail report to customers upon request. 12. Cash Back Rebates Ld.com, Inc., is not authorized to collect deposits from customers or to provide alternate operator services, or local exchange services. 13. 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 15th day of November, 1999. WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION CAROLE J. WASHBURN Secretary DOCKET UT-960504 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