Opinion ID: 1168260
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: exercise of authority by commission under commerce clause

Text: The security deposit rule is a legitimate exercise of state regulatory authority by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission. It is separable from interstate communications because it applies only to intrastate usage. The rule applies only to ITC's seeking to conduct intrastate telecommunications business either entirely intrastate or in conjunction with interstate business. It does not supplant any interstate deposit requirement nor does it regulate interstate instrumentalities. [6] The security deposit rule does not violate the commerce clause because the dual state/federal regulation scheme established by Congress allows indirect burdens on interstate commerce by state regulation of intrastate commerce. Even if the indirect burdens are significant or raise constitutional issues, the applicable balancing test (state benefit versus burden on interstate commerce) supports the security deposit rule absent a showing that the rule applies differently to interstate companies than to purely intrastate companies.