[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5957-5958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3187]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36, 51, 61 and 69

[CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 96-262, and 96-98; DA 97-239]


Implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Request for comment; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Common Carrier Bureau of the Federal Communications 
Commission here extends time for parties to comment on issues raised by 
its January 9, 1997 Staff Analysis of economic cost computer models 
submitted in connection with several pending proceedings implementing 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Public Notice setting the 
original comment deadlines was published in the Federal Register on 
February 5, 1997.

DATES: Comments in response to the Public Notice are due February 13, 
1997, and replies are due February 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must file an original and four copies of their 
comments with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 222, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Konuch, 202-418-0199 or Brad 
Wimmer, 202-418-1847.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Released: January 31, 1997.

Extension of Time Granted for Parties To Submit Comments in Response to 
Commission Staff's Analysis of Cost Proxy Models

Comment Date: February 13, 1997
Reply Comment Date: February 20, 1997


[[Page 5958]]


    1. On January 9, 1997, the Commission Staff released a Staff 
Analysis intended to stimulate discussion of criteria for the 
evaluation, and use, of forward-looking cost proxy models in 
determining universal service support payments, cost-based access 
charges, and interconnection and unbundled network element pricing. 
Also on January 9, 1997, the Common Carrier Bureau (``Bureau'') issued 
a Public Notice seeking comment on issues raised in the Staff Analysis, 
and setting deadlines of February 3, 1997 for initial comments, and 
February 14, 1997 for replies. The Public Notice indicated that the 
record gathered in response to the Staff Analysis might at a future 
date be associated with the official record of certain pending 
rulemakings to which it may be relevant and used to support Commission 
determinations in those rulemakings. See Federal-State Joint Board on 
Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45, Access Charge Reform, CC Docket 
No. 96-262, and Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions of 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996, CC Docket No. 96-98.
    2. On January 24, 1996, Pacific Telesis Group, Sprint Corporation, 
and U S WEST, Inc., (``Petitioners''), filed a Motion for Extension of 
Time to File Comments in response to the Public Notice. For the reasons 
below, the deadlines for filing initial and reply comments are being 
extended until February 13 and February 20, 1997, respectively.
    3. First, the Staff Analysis focused on models submitted previously 
to the Commission, but the model sponsors have indicated that these 
models will be superseded by newer versions to be released by January 
31, 1997, and by February 5, 1997. These new models are the Benchmark 
Cost Proxy Model (``BCPM''), to be submitted by Petitioners, and 
Hatfield 3, to be submitted by AT&T and MCI. Additionally, another 
model, Dr. Ben Johnson's Telecom Economic Cost Model, was filed in the 
universal service proceeding earlier this month. Inasmuch as the new 
models are intended to improve on the earlier versions, it would be 
more efficient for commenters and Commission staff to focus their 
efforts on evaluating the new models instead of the superseded 
versions. In addition, because the new models are scheduled to be 
released shortly before and after the current comment deadline, 
commenters will not be able to evaluate them at all in comments here 
without an extension.
    4. The extension being granted is not the full period sought by 
Petitioners. We want to ensure that the responses filed to the Staff 
Analysis are available for possible use by the Commission in acting by 
May 8, 1997, on the recommendation of the Federal-State Universal 
Service Joint Board. Any longer extension could easily jeopardize such 
use of the record.
    5. Among other things, parties should address in their comments 
whether, and to what extent, the new models: (1) Meet the criteria set 
forth in the Staff Analysis; (2) improve on potential shortcomings of 
the prior versions of the models.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-3187 Filed 2-7-97; 8:45 am]
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