peterm@sumax.seattleu.edu (Peter Marshall) (12/31/90)
The following is from a 12/12/90 Protest filed with the WA Utilities and Transportation Commission by GTE-NW against a pending application for registration as a telecom company and competitive classification, filed by GCI FiberNet, Inc., apparently, a TCI affiliate. According to the GTE-NW Protest, GCI wants to provide "non-switched services which are presently provided -- or might be provided -- by GTE-NW and other local telephone companies...," and GCI wants "to pursue the most lucrative customers;" so GTE-NW says "The application raises very signficant issues about duplicating services provided by local telephone companies and infringing on their franchised territories ... significant revenues are at stake, and eventual impacts on the price of local basic service are probable ... the Commission's action ... will naturally constitute an important precedent...." GCI, says GTE, wants to construct and run fiber nets in the Seattle area and to provide intrastate and intraexchange services; and granting its application would authorize it to provide intra and interLATA service, including that within and between exisiting local exchange boundaries. According to GTE,approval would let GCI actually provide any type of service. The Protest also indicates GTE's view that "GCI-F's application raises affiliate and cross-subsidy issues;" explaining that they are "indirectly owned by or otherwise affiliated with TCI," and that the PUC should determine "whether any improper subsidy will flow in either direction between GCI-F's ratepayers and TCI's customers." Peter Marshall