[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37980-37981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18316]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 61 and 63

[IB Docket No. 95-118, FCC 95-286]


Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process 
and Tariff Requirements

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rules.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission is proposing rules to 
streamline the international Section 214 authorization process and 
tariff requirements. The Commission proposes to streamline many Section 
214 authorization requirements as well as tariff requirements. The 
Commission believes that the proposals will greatly lessen the 
regulatory burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the 
Commission and allow carriers to operate more efficiently and respond 
better to customers' needs in a timely manner. Additionally, the 
Commission's proposals will enable international carriers to enter, 
expand, and exit the market more quickly.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 1995. Reply 
comments must be submitted on or before September 7, 1995.

ADDRESSES: All comments and reply comments concerning these proposals 
should be addressed to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and reply comments will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours in the 
FCC Reference Center (room 239) of the Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Helene T. Schrier or Troy F. Tanner, Attorney-Advisors, Policy and 
Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau, 
(202) 418-1470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on July 13, 1995 and released July 17, 
1995. The full text of this notice is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (room 
239) of the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of this notice also may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M Street NW., suite 140, Washington, 
DC 20037, (202) 857-3800.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act

A. Reason for Action

    This rulemaking proceeding was initiated to obtain comment 
regarding proposed changes to the Commission's international Section 
214 authorization process and tariff requirements.

B. Objectives

    The Commission seeks to streamline the international Section 214 
authorization process and tariff requirements to greatly lessen the 
regulatory burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the 
Commission and enable them to operate more efficiently and respond 
better to customers' needs in a timely manner. 

[[Page 37981]]
Such proposals also seek to enable international carriers to enter and 
exit the market more quickly with greater flexibility to meet the 
evolving needs of a global telecommunications market.

C. Legal Basis

    The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4 and 203 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154, 203 (1995).

D. Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements

    None.

E. Federal Rules That Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These Rules

    None.

F. Description, Potential Impact, and Number of Small Entities Involved

    The proposals discussed in this notice of proposed rulemaking will 
reduce regulatory requirements on small resellers and facilities-based 
providers who file international Section 214 authorization applications 
and tariffs. These proposals also are intended to enable these carriers 
to enter and exit the market more quickly thereby enabling increased 
competition in the international markets. Copies of this notice will be 
sent to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration.

G. Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small Entities 
Consistent With Stated Objective(s)

    None.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to streamline the 
international Section 214 authorization process and tariff 
requirements. The proposed rules would greatly reduce the regulatory 
burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the Commission and make 
it easier for carriers to enter, expand and exit the international 
service market.
    The notice proposes to ease entry into the marketplace by enabling 
a nondominant carrier to obtain a global Section 214 authorization, 
which is not limited to specific carrier facilities. This authorization 
would allow carriers to provide international services to virtually all 
points in the world, using any licensed facility. This authorization 
would be subject to an exclusion list that the Commission would publish 
identifying countries or facilities for which there are restrictions. 
To further ease entry into the international marketplace, the Notice 
proposes to simplify and accelerate the Section 214 and cable landing 
license application process. The notice proposes to reduce the detailed 
information now required of these applicants. To accelerate the 
Commission's processing of applications, the Notice proposes to shorten 
the comment period on applications that are subject to streamlined 
processing for facilities-based and resale applicants from 30 to 21 
days and for nonstreamlined applications from 30 to 28 days and 
proposes a 14 day reply period for all applications. The notice also 
proposes to encourage electronic filing of international Section 214 
applications and to require that applications in foreign languages be 
accompanied with a certified translation in English.
    The notice also would eliminate several regulatory requirements 
that delay carriers from expanding their services. Under the proposals, 
resellers could provide international resale services via any 
authorized common carrier, except those affiliated with the reseller, 
without obtaining additional authority. Private line resale carriers 
could resell interconnected private lines for switched services to all 
designated ``equivalent'' countries, without obtaining additional 
authority to serve each equivalent county. Carriers may add circuits on 
private satellite or cable systems, without obtaining prior authority.
    The notice also eases exit from the market, as the proposals allow 
dominant carriers to automatically convey transmission capacity in 
submarine cables to other carriers without obtaining prior Section 214 
authority. Additionally, the proposals allow nondominant carriers to 
provide 60, as opposed to 120, days' notice to their customers before 
discontinuing service or retiring facilities.
    The notice also proposes to further streamline the tariff 
requirements for nondominant international resale and facilities-based 
carriers by permitting them to file their international tariffed rates 
on one day's notice instead of the current 14 days' notice. And, the 
Commission seeks comment, in general, on whether to streamline the 
international tariff process.
    Finally, the Commission seeks comments on what, if any, Section 214 
authorization requirements it should forbear from applying if given 
forbearance authority by Congress.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 61

    Communications common carriers.

47 CFR Part 63

    Communications common carriers.

    Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-18316 Filed 7-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M