[Federal Register: December 17, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 242)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 77220]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de02-18]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 0, 43, 63 and 64
[IB Docket Nos. 02-324, 96-261; DA 02-3314]
International Settlements Policy Reform and International
Settlement Rates
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: On October 25, 2002, the Federal Communications Commission
published a proposed rule document initiating a proceeding to re-
examine the Commission's International Settlements Policy. In light of
recent international developments, the Commission decided to extend the
initial pleading cycle by 35 days to allow interested parties an
opportunity to include in their initial comments any response to these
recent developments and their effect on the policies under
consideration in the proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments are due on or before January 14, 2003. Reply Comments
are due on or before February 6, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary,
445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. See Supplementary
Information for filing instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Ball, Chief, or Lisa Choi,
Senior Legal Advisor, Policy Division, International Bureau, (202) 418-
1460.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. On October 11, 2002, the Commission
released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment from
the public regarding possible reform of its International Settlements
Policy, International Simple Resale and benchmarks policies, and the
issue of foreign mobile termination rates. (See 67 FR 65527, October
25, 2002.)
2. The Commission has become aware of the recent actions taken by
several foreign administrations to impose rate floors on international
termination rates, including U.S.-international accounting rates.
Actions of this nature raise concerns insofar as they have the
potential to cause increases in consumer calling rates by raising
commercially-negotiated termination rates between U.S. and foreign
carriers. The NPRM in this proceeding specifically asked for comment on
potential anticompetitive harms to U.S. carriers and consumers from
foreign carriers with market power.
3. In light of these recent developments and the questions raised
in the NPRM regarding possible reform of the Commission's ISP and
accounting rate policies, we extend the pleading cycle established in
the NPRM, FCC 02-285, IB Docket Nos. 02-324 & 96-261, by 35 days in
order to allow interested parties an opportunity to include in their
initial comments any response to these recent developments and their
effect on the policies under consideration in the proposed rulemaking.
We find that the public interest will be served by this brief extension
of both the comment and reply dates to allow for a more complete record
in this proceeding.
4. Accordingly, pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.1 of the Commission's
rules, 47 CFR 1.1, the new comment due date is January 14, 2003 and the
new reply comment due date is February 6, 2003. Instructions for filing
pleadings in this proceeding are set forth in the NPRM, available on
the Commission's website at http://www.fcc.gov. All comments and reply
comments will be available for public inspection during regular
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257,
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
Federal Communications Commission.
James Ball,
Chief, Policy Division, International Bureau.
[FR Doc. 02-31604 Filed 12-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P