[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 33074-33075] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-16396] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Part 64 [CC Docket No. 96-128; DA 96-983] Pay Telephone Reclassification and Compensation Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In this Order, we are extending the comments and reply comments deadlines in order to grant to the parties more time to address all issues raised in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This Order is issued on the Commission's own motion because of the relatively short time that was accorded to the parties to comment on the important issues. DATES: Comments due: July 1, 1996; Reply Comments due: July 15, 1996. ADDRESSES: In addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any comments on the information collections contained herein should be submitted to Dorothy Conway, Federal Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet to [email protected] and to Timothy Fain, OMB Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725 - 17th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20503 or via the Internet to [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Carowitz, Enforcement Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-0960. For additional information concerning the information collections contained in this Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making contact Dorothy Conway at 202- 418-0217, or via the Internet at [email protected]. [[Page 33075]] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Order Adopted: June 20, 1996; Released: June 20, 1996. 1. On June 14, 1996, the American Public Communications Council (``APCC'') filed a motion asking that we extend the deadline for filing comments in the above-captioned proceeding 1 from June 27, 1996, to July 1, 1996, a period of four days. APCC also requests a corresponding extension of the due date for reply comments from July 8, 1996, to July 12, 1996. In support of its motion, APCC states that virtually every issue in the proceeding vitally affects its members and that, as a result, additional days are required to effectively prepare comments.2 Also on June 14, 1996, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (``SWBT'') filed a motion for an extension of the deadline for reply comments to July 12, 1996, although it does not request a change in the deadline for the initial comment cycle. SWBT argues that due to the forthcoming federal holiday, there will not be a sufficient number of business days for parties to respond adequately to the initial comments. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 96-254 (rel. Jun. 6, 1996); 61 FR 31481, June 20, 1996. \2\ As a national trade association of independent pay telephone companies, APCC claims that the comment process will require coordination with member companies and allied state associations. APCC claims that this process cannot be completed effectively in the time allotted. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time are not routinely granted.3 However, in light of the important issues presented in this proceeding and the relatively short period of time accorded to the parties to comment on those issues, we believe that the public interest would be served by granting all parties a brief extension of the deadlines for the comments and reply comments. While we take this action on our motion, we nevertheless believe that this Order will grant relief that is substantially similar to that requested by APCC and SWBT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ See 47 CFR Sec. 1.46(a). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 5(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), and 155(c), and the authority delegated thereunder pursuant to Sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR Secs. 0.91 and 0.291, that the deadline for filing comments in the above-captioned proceeding is extended to July 1, 1996, and the deadline for filing reply comments is extended to July 15, 1996. Because they concern issues that are now moot, the motions of APCC and SWBT for an extension of time are dismissed. Federal Communications Commission. Robert W. Spangler Deputy Chief (Policy), Enforcement Division, Common Carrier Bureau. [FR Doc. 96-16396 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P