[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 44 (Thursday, March 6, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10220-10221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5496]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 32 and 53

[CC Docket No. 96-150: FCC 96-490]


Accounting Safeguards Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996: 
Correction

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; Correction.

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SUMMARY: This document contains a correction to the effective date of 
the Final Rules, which were published Tuesday, January 21, 1997, (62 FR 
2918). The rules related to accounting safeguards that are necessary to 
satisfy the requirements of Sections 260 and 271 through 276 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 
1996 (``1996 Act''). Specifically, this Order prescribed the way 
incumbent local exchange carriers, including the Bell Operating 
Companies (``BOCs''), must account for transactions with affiliates 
involving, and allocate costs incurred in the provision of, both 
regulated telecommunications services and nonregulated services, 
including telemessaging, interLATA telecommunications, information, 
manufacturing, electronic publishing, alarm monitoring and payphone 
services, to ensure compliance with the 1996 Act.


[[Page 10221]]


EFFECTIVE DATE: The requirements and regulations established in this 
Order with regard to Part 32 of our Rules 47 CFR Part 32, shall become 
effective upon approval by OMB of the new information collection 
requirements adopted herein, but no sooner than July 20, 1997 (six 
months after publication in the Federal Register). We will allow 
carriers to implement these rules at an earlier date and encourage them 
to do so. The remaining new and/or modified information collections 
established in this Order shall become effective upon approval by OMB 
of the new information collection requirements adopted herein, but no 
sooner than February 20,1 997. The Commission will publish a document 
at a later date establishing the effective dates of these rules.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Ehrlich, Attorney/Advisor, Accounting and Audits Division, Common 
Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-0385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Accounting Safeguards Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 
Report and Order established accounting safeguards that are necessary 
to satisfy the requirements of the 1996 Act, including the way 
incumbent local exchange carriers, including the Bell Operating 
Companies (``BOCs''), must account for transactions with affiliates 
involving, and allocate costs incurred in the provision of, both 
regulated telecommunications services and nonregulated services, 
including telemessaging, inteLATA telecommunications, information, 
manufacturing, electronic publishing, alarm monitoring and payphone 
services.

Need for Correction

    Under section 220(g) of the Act, the Commission must allow six 
months notice before alterations in the required manner or form of 
keeping accounts are to take effect.

Correction of Publication

    Accordingly, the publication on January 21, 1997 is corrected as 
follows:
    1. The effective date paragraph on page 2918, in the third column, 
should read: The requirements and regulations established in this Order 
with regard to Part 32 of our Rules, 47 CFR Part 32, shall become 
effective upon approval by OMB of the new information collection 
requirements adopted herein, but no sooner than July 20, 1997 (six 
months after publication in the Federal Register). We will allow 
carriers to implement these rules at an earlier date and encourage them 
to do so. The remaining new and/or modified information collections 
established in this Order shall become effective upon approval by OMB 
of the new information collection requirements adopted herein, but no 
sooner than February 20, 1997.
    2. The second indented paragraph 2925, in the second column, should 
read:
    It is further ordered that, pursuant to section 220(g) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 220(g) and 
section 1.427(c) of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Sec. 1.427(c), the 
requirements and regulations established in this Order with regard to 
Part 32 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR Part 32, shall be effective 
six months after publication in the Federal Register. The remaining 
requirements and regulations established in this Order shall become 
effective upon approval by OMB of the new information collection 
requirements adopted herein, but no sooner than February 20, 1997.

Federal Communications Commission
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-5496 Filed 3-5-97; 8:45 am]
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