A. Electricity: From and after July 1, 1968, there is levied upon and there shall be collected from every person engaged in furnishing, for a monetary consideration, the city and the inhabitants thereof, with electricity and electrical energy for lighting, heating, power and other public purposes within or partly within the corporate limits of the city, an annual tax for the privilege of so doing, such tax to be equal to six percent (6%) of the total gross income derived from subscribers' revenues from business, and residential electrical power service in the city.
B. Telephones: From and after January 1, 1982, there is levied upon, and there shall be collected from, every person engaged in carrying on a telephone business within, or partly within, the corporate limits of the city, a tax equal to six percent (6%) of the total gross income, including revenues from intrastate toll, derived from the operation of such businesses within the limits of the city.
C. Natural Or Manufactured Gas: From and after July 1, 1968, there is levied upon and there shall be collected from every person engaged in carrying on or furnishing, for a monetary consideration, natural gas or manufactured gas for lighting, heating, power, and other public purposes, within or partly within the corporate limits of the city an annual tax for the privilege of so doing, such tax to be equal to six percent (6%) of the total gross income derived from subscribers' revenues from business and residential gas service, both natural and manufactured, in the city.
D. Cable Television Services: From and after the effective date hereof, there is levied upon and there shall be collected from every person engaged in the cable television service, for a monetary consideration, within or partly within the corporate limits of the city an annual tax for the privilege of so doing, such tax to be equal to six percent (6%) of the total gross income derived from subscribers' revenues from cable television service provided in the city. (Ord. 917, 11-9-2011, eff. 1-1-2012)
E. Water Distribution: (Rep. by Ord. 956, 5-14-2014)
F. Definitions:
CABLE TELEVISION SERVICES: The one-way transmission of video programming and associated nonvideo signals to subscribers together with subscriber interaction, if any, which is provided in connection with video programming.
COMPETITIVE TELEPHONE SERVICE: The provision by any person of telephone telecommunications equipment or apparatus, such as a repair and maintenance service, if the equipment or apparatus is of a type that can be provided by persons who are not subject to regulations as telephone companies under title 80 Revised Code Of Washington, and for which separate charges are made.
GROSS INCOME: The value proceeding or accruing by reason of the transaction of the business engaged in and without deduction on account of the cost of the property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs, taxes or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account of losses, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter. Gross income does not include charges which are passed on to subscribers or customers pursuant to tariffs required by regulatory order to compensate for the cost to the taxpayer of the tax imposed by this chapter.
NETWORK TELEPHONE SERVICE: The provision by any person of access to a local telephone network, local telephone network switching service, toll service, cellular phone service, or coin telephone service, or providing telephonic, video, data, pagers, or similar communication or transmission for hire via a local telephone network, toll line, channel, cable, microwave, or similar communication or transmission system. Network telephone service includes interstate and international service, including toll service originating from, or received on telecommunications equipment or apparatus in this state if the charge for this service is billed to a person in this state. Network telephone service does not include the provision of competitive telephone service, cable television service, or broadcast services by radio or television stations.
TELEPHONE BUSINESS: The business of providing "network telephone service" as defined herein. It includes cooperative or farmer line telephone companies or associations operating an exchange. The term "telephone business" shall include one hundred percent (100%) of the toll service fees from calls originating in and/or billed to subscribers within the city of Orting. (Ord. 917, 11-9-2011, eff. 1-1-2012; amd. Ord. 956, 5-14-2014)