§ 5.04.030. Telephone business—Rate.

There is levied upon, and there shall be collected from, every person, firm or corporation engaged in carrying on a telephone business for hire within or partly within the corporate limits of the city an annual tax for the privilege of so doing, the tax to be equal to six percent of the total gross annual operating local, long distance and other service within the corporate limits of the city.

(1)

"Competitive telephone service" means the providing by any person of telecommunications equipment or apparatus, directory advertising and lease of telephone street directories, or service, other than toll service, related to that equipment or apparatus such as repair or maintenance service, if the equipment or apparatus is of a type which may be provided by persons not subject to regulation as telephone companies under title 80 RCW, and for which a separate charge is made.

(2)

"Telephone business" means the business of providing access to a local telephone network, local telephone network switching service, toll service, cellular telephone services, coin telephone services, telephonic, video, data or similar communication, or transmission for hire, via a local telephone network, toll line or channel, cable, microwave or similar communication or transmission system. The term includes cooperative or farmer line telephone companies or associations operating exchanges. "Telephone business" does not include the providing of competitive telephone service, or providing of cable television service, or other providing of broadcast services by radio or television stations.

(Ord. No. P-79, § 1, 1993; Ord. No. D-21, § 3, 10-21-1952)