[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36549-36550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15304]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 03-1882]
Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on ALLTEL
Communications, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible
Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Alabama
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau sought
comment on the ALLTEL Petition. ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL) is
seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to
receive federal universal service support for service offered
throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including
rural and non-rural areas.
DATES: Comments are due on or before June 30, 2003. Reply comments are
due on or before July 7, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further filing
instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lipp, Attorney, Wireline
Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202)
418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0494.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public
Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released June 3, 2003. On April 14, 2003,
ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL), a commercial mobile radio service
(CMRS) carrier, filed with the Commission a petition under section
214(e)(6) seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier
(ETC) to receive federal universal service support for service offered
throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including
rural and non-rural areas. On May 21, 2003, ALLTEL filed an amendment
to its petition with regard to its proposed service areas.
Specifically, ALLTEL
[[Page 36550]]
contends that: the Alabama Public Service Commission (Alabama
Commission) has provided an affirmative statement that it does not
regulate CMRS carriers; ALLTEL satisfies all the statutory and
regulatory prerequisites for ETC designation; and designating ALLTEL as
an ETC will serve the public interest.
Pursuant to Sec. 54.207(c) of the Commission's rules, ALLTEL also
requests that the Commission designate ALLTEL as an ETC in service
areas defined along boundaries that differ from incumbent rural local
exchange company (LEC) study area boundaries. ALLTEL requests that
these service areas be redefined on a wire center by wire center basis
such that each wire center is a separate service area. ALLTEL intends
to serve each proposed wire center in its entirety. The service areas
requested by ALLTEL for ETC designation partially cover the study areas
of ALLTEL Alabama, Inc. (a wireline affiliate of ALLTEL by virtue of
common ownership by ALLTEL Corporation), Butler Telephone Co. Inc.,
Castleberry Telephone Co. Inc., Frontier Communications of Alabama,
Frontier Communications of The South, Graceba Total Communications, GTC
Inc.--AL, Gulf Telephone Co., Hayneville Telephone Co. Inc., Millry
Telephone Company, Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative, Pine Belt Telephone
Company, Union Springs Telephone Co. Inc. ALLTEL maintains that the
proposed redefinition of service areas for ETC purposes is consistent
with the factors to be considered when redefining a rural telephone
company service area, as enumerated by the Federal-State Joint Board on
Universal Service (Joint Board).
The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the Alabama
Commission. The Commission will also send a copy of this Public Notice
to the Alabama Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the
Alabama Commission is notified of the notice and comment period.
Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments as follows:
comments are due on or before June 30, 2003, and reply comments are due
on or before July 7, 2003. Comments may be filed using the Commission's
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121,
May 1, 1998.
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file
via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally,
only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple
docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding,
however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments
to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In
completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full
name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or
rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments,
commenters should send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include
the following words in the body of the message, ``get form .'' A sample form and directions will be sent in
reply.
Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four
copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number
appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two
additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S.
Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc.,
will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for
the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110,
Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7
p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or
fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the
building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail,
Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the
Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission.
Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl
Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-
B540, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette
copies to the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International,
Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20054.
Pursuant to Sec. 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206,
this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding
in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure.
Federal Communications Commission.
Paul Garnett,
Acting Assistant Division Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau,
Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-15304 Filed 6-17-03; 8:45 am]
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