[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44296-44297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21148]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36 and 69

[CC Docket No. 95-115; FCC 95-281]


Common Carrier Services: Increasing Subscribership and Usage of 
the Public Switched Network

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On July 13, 1995, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking on increasing telephone subscribership and usage. The FCC is 
considering proposals to help reconnect subscribers disconnected from 
the network when they fail to pay interstate long-distance charges, and 
to help new and existing low-income subscribers to avoid disconnection 
due to unpaid interstate long-distance charges.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 27, 1995. 
Reply comments are due on or before October 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St., N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Mulitz, Attorney/Advisor or George Johnson, Attorney/Advisor, 
Accounting and Audits, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-0850.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking adopted July 13, 1995, and released July 20, 
1995. The full text of this Commission decision is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Dockets 
Branch (Room 230), 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, D.C. The complete text 
of this decision may also be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, Downtown Copy Center 1990 M Street, N.W., Suite 640, 
Washington, D.C. 20036.
    The FCC is proposing to require carriers to adjust security deposit 
requirements to take into account the diminished credit risk when new 
or reconnected subscribers agree to accept voluntary toll restriction 
service. The 

[[Page 44297]]
FCC seeks comment on ways to increase the effectiveness of the Link Up 
assistance program. The FCC is considering whether to require LECs to 
provide, at reasonable cost, interstate long-distance restriction 
services, allowing subscribers voluntarily to block only those 
interstate calls for which they would be charged. The FCC is also 
considering prohibiting LECs from disconnecting subscribers for failure 
to pay outstanding interstate long-distance charges. The FCC seeks 
comment on ways to modify the Lifeline program to increase 
subscribership and whether the program should be extended to certain 
multi-line entities such as schools and libraries. The FCC also 
requests comment on ways in which the marketplace can operate to make 
low-cost services, such as prepaid debit cards and voice mailboxes, 
available to highly-mobile, low-income persons, and whether Link Up 
assistance should be extended to include such services to individuals 
that are not already telephone subscribers. Comments are sought on ways 
to extend telephone service to unserved areas, alternative methods to 
measure subscribership, and ways to increase consumer awareness of 
subscribership opportunities.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    We have determined that Section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 605(b) does not apply to this 
rulemaking proceeding because if promulgated, it would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The definition of a ``small entity'' in Section 3 of the Small Business 
Act excludes any business that is dominant in its field of operation. 
Although some of the local exchange carriers that will be affected are 
very small, local exchange companies do not qualify as small entities 
because they have a nationwide monopoly on ubiquitous access to the 
subscribers in their service area. The Commission has found all 
exchange carriers to be dominant in the Competitive Carrier proceeding. 
85 FCC 2d 1, 23-24 (1980). To the extent that small telephone companies 
will be affected by these rules, we hereby certify that these rules 
will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of 
``small entities.'' Although we do not find that the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act is applicable to this proceeding, this Commission has 
an ongoing concern with the effect of its rules and regulation on small 
business and the customers of the regulated carriers as is evidenced by 
this proceeding.

Ordering Clause

    Accordingly, It is ordered that,  pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 
201-205, 218-220, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 201-205, 218-220, and 403, notice 
is hereby given of the proposals in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-21148 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M