[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27322-27323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13667]



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[[Page 27323]]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36 and 69

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA-96-702]


Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule: Denial of extension of time.

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SUMMARY: On May 6, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission 
(``Commission'') released an Order (``Order'') denying a request to 
extend the deadline for filing reply comments to its Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking and Order Establishing Joint Board, released March 8, 1996 
(CC Docket No. 96-45). The Commission denied the request out of concern 
that further delay in this proceeding might jeopardize the Joint 
Board's ability to issue a recommended decision within the statutory 
deadline set forth in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. By not extending 
the period for filing reply comments, the Commission intends to support 
the Joint Board in its resolve to announce its recommended decision on 
or before the statutory deadline of November 8, 1996.

DATES: Reply comments were due on or before May 8, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW., Washington, D.C. 
20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Reel, 202-418-0850, Accounting and 
Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 8, 1996, the Federal Communications 
Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order 
Establishing Joint Board (``NPRM''), 61 FR 10499 (March 14, 1996). The 
Commission sought comment on all matters discussed in that NPRM. The 
deadline for comments was April 8, 1996 and the deadline for reply 
comments was May 3, 1996. On April 1, 1996, the Commission released an 
Order that extended the comment period until April 12, 1996 and the 
reply comment period until May 7, 1996 for all interested parties. On 
April 30, 1996, Information Renaissance and California Technology 
Assistance Project (petitioners) filed a joint request for a seven day 
further extension of the reply comment deadline. Petitioners argued 
that a further extension would permit parties to avail themselves of 
the original comments that petitioners had put on the World Wide Web in 
electronic form, and thereby file reply comments based upon a better 
knowledge of the original comments. Believing that a further extension 
of time would seriously jeopardize the Joint Board's ability to issue a 
recommended decision within the statutory deadline set forth in the 
Act, the Commission found that the public interest would not be served 
by a further extension of time. Pursuant to the Commission's rules 
governing motions for the extension of time (47 CFR Sec. 1.46), 
however, parties have two business days grace after the Commission acts 
on a timely filed motion for an extension of time. Because the 
Commission denied petitioner's motion on May 6, 1996, reply comments 
were due May 8, 1996.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kenneth P. Moran,
Chief, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-13667 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P