[Federal Register: January 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 13)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2862-2863]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21ja04-15]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 0, 1, 61, and 69
[CC Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1, 98-157, and CCB/CPD File No. 98-63; DA
04-31]
Parties Asked To Refresh Record Regarding Reconsideration of
Rules Adopted in 1999 Access Reform Docket
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission invites parties that filed
petitions for reconsideration and clarification of rules that the
Commission adopted in the 1999 access charge reform docket to update
the record. These parties may file any new information or arguments
that they believe to be relevant to deciding only those issues that
they previously raised in their petitions. Because the petitions for
reconsideration and clarification were filed several years ago, the
intervening developments and passage of time may have caused the record
to become stale. If these parties do not indicate an intent to pursue
their previous petitions, the Commission will deem them withdrawn and
will dismiss them.
DATES: Comments are due on or before February 20, 2004, and reply
comments are due on or before March 8, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for filing
instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marvin F. Sacks, Attorney-Advisor,
Wireline Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division, (202) 418-1520 or
via the Internet at marvin.sacks@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Below is a summary of the Public Notice that
the Commission released on January 8, 2004. In that document, the
Commission invites parties to refresh the 1999 Access Reform Docket, CC
Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1, 98-157, and CCB/CPD File No. 98-63 adopted
August 5, 1999, and released August 27, 1999. When filing comments and
reply comments, parties should reference CC Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1,
98-157, and CCB/CPD File No. 98-63, and conform to the filing
procedures contained in the Notice. All pleadings may be filed using
the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing
paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs.
Commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each
docket 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 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
ecfs@fcc.gov, 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 number appears in
the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional
copies for each additional docket 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, Natek, 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. The Commission
advises that electronic media not be sent through USPS. All filings
must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Suite TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two (2) copies of the comments and
reply comments should also be sent to Deena Shetler, Deputy Division
Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 5-A121,
Washington, DC 20554. Parties shall also serve one copy with Qualex
International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 863-2893, or via e-mail to
qualexint@aol.com. The original petitions for reconsideration and
clarification filed by the parties in
[[Page 2863]]
CC Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1, 98-157, and CCB/CPD File No. 98-63 are
available for public inspection and copying during business hours at
the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The documents may also be purchased
from Qualex International, telephone (202) 863-2893, facsimile (202)
863-2898. This document may also be purchased from Qualex International
and is available via the Internet at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-3961A1.pdf
.
Synopsis
1. The Commission on January 8, 2004, released a Public Notice that
seeks to refresh the record in the 1999 Access Reform Docket. In this
docket, the Commission on August 27, 1999 released the Access Reform
Fifth Report and Order, published at 64 FR 60122 (November 4, 1999) in
CC Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1, 98-157, and CCB/CPD File No. 98-63, FCC
99-206. This order established a framework for granting greater pricing
flexibility for price cap carriers as competition develops. Bell
Atlantic, GTE, Access Solutions Corporation, and the United States
Telephone Association subsequently filed petitions for reconsideration
and clarification of that order.
2. Since then, the Commission has received and granted a number of
petitions seeking pricing flexibility. In addition, AT&T recently asked
the Commission to revisit pricing flexibility issues, and parties have
responded by filing extensive comments.
3. Because the petitions for reconsideration and clarification were
filed several years ago, the intervening developments and passage of
time may have rendered the records developed by those petitions stale.
Issues raised in the pending petitions may have become moot or
irrelevant. As a result, it is not clear what issues arising out of the
Access Reform Fifth Report and Order, if any, remain in dispute.
4. For these reasons, the Commission requests that parties that
filed petitions for reconsideration and clarification of the Access
Reform Fifth Report and Order now file a supplemental notice indicating
those issues that they still wish to be reconsidered or clarified.
These parties may refresh the record with any new information or
arguments that they believe to be relevant to deciding only those
issues that they previously raised in their petitions for
reconsideration and clarification. To the extent that these parties do
not indicate an intent to pursue these petitions, the Commission will
deem them withdrawn and will dismiss them.
Federal Communications Commission.
Tamara Preiss,
Division Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 04-1195 Filed 1-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P