[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39451-39453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19354]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 63

[FCC 97-243]


Notification of Common Carriers of Service Disruptions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission's regulations require carriers to notify 
Commission headquarters when certain service outages occur, but permit 
carriers to

[[Page 39452]]

notify the Commission's facility at Grand Island, Nebraska on a 
``secondary basis.'' The Commission has closed the Nebraska facility 
and is designating as the secondary facility ``the FCC's Columbia 
Operations Center in Columbia, Maryland, or such other facility which 
the Commission may designate by regulation or (in the case of 
emergency) by public announcement.'' The order also clarifies that 
notification of the secondary facility is appropriate only when there 
is a telephone outage or similar emergency in Washington, DC.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 23, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andre Rausch, 202-418-7277, Network 
Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
in FCC 97-243, adopted July 3, 1997, and released July 11, 1997. This 
item is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the Network Services Division Reference Room (Room 220), 2000 
M Street, NW., Washington DC, or a copy may be purchased from the 
duplicating contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (202) 
857-3800, 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036. The Order will 
be published in the FCC Record.

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., does not 
apply to this proceeding because the Commission is adopting this rule 
without notice and comment. See 5 U.S.C. 603(a) and 604(a). Notice and 
comment are not required because the Commission is modifying a ``rule 
of agency organization, procedure, or practice.'' See 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A). Moreover, the Commission has found that notice and comment 
are unnecessary here. See 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).

Ordering Clauses

    Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 201-205 
and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
Secs. 151, 154(i), 201-205, and 303(r), that part 63 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 63.100 is amended as set forth below, 
effective July 23, 1997.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 63

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Part 63 of title 47 is amended as follows:

PART 63--EXTENSION OF LINES AND DISCONTINUANCE, REDUCTION, OUTAGE 
AND IMPAIRMENT OF SERVICE BY COMMON CARRIERS; AND GRANTS OF 
RECOGNIZED PRIVATE OPERATING AGENCY STATUS

    1. The authority citation for part 63 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205, 218, 403 and 
533, unless otherwise noted.

    2. Section 63.100 is amended as follows:

    a. In paragraph (b) remove the third sentence and add two sentences 
in its place;
    b. In paragraph (c) remove the third sentence and add two sentences 
in its place;
    c. In paragraph (d) remove the third sentence and add two sentences 
in its place;
    d. In paragraph (e) remove the third sentence of the introductory 
text and add two sentences in its place;
    e. In paragraph (e)(2) remove the first sentence and add two 
sentences in its place; and
    f. In paragraph (h)(2) remove the second sentence and add two 
sentences in its place.


Sec. 63.100  Notification of service outage.

* * * * *
    (b) * * * Notification must be served on the Commission's Duty 
Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's Communications and Crisis 
Management Center in Washington, DC. Notification may be served on the 
Commission's Watch Officer on duty at the FCC's Columbia Operations 
Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other facility designated by the 
Commission by regulation or (at the time of the emergency) by public 
announcement only if there is a telephone outage or similar emergency 
in Washington, DC. * * *
    (c) * * * Notification must be served on the Commission's Duty 
Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's Communications and Crisis 
Management Center in Washington, DC. Notification may be served on the 
Commission's Watch Officer on duty at the FCC's Columbia Operations 
Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other facility designated by the 
Commission by regulation or (at the time of the emergency) by public 
announcement only if there is a telephone outage or similar emergency 
in Washington, DC. * * *
    (d) * * * Notification must be served on the Commission's Duty 
Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's Communications and Crisis 
Management Center in Washington, DC. Notification may be served on the 
Commission's Watch Officer on duty at the FCC's Columbia Operations 
Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other facility designated by the 
Commission by regulation or (at the time of the emergency) by public 
announcement only if there is a telephone outage or similar emergency 
in Washington, DC. * * *
    (e) * * * Notification must be served on the Commission's Duty 
Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's Communications and Crisis 
Management Center in Washington, DC. Notification may be served on the 
Commission's Watch Officer on duty at the FCC's Columbia Operations 
Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other facility designated by the 
Commission by regulation or (at the time of the emergency) by public 
announcement only if there is a telephone outage or similar emergency 
in Washington, DC. * * *
* * * * *
    (2) If there is to be a report to the Commission, a written or oral 
report will be given by the NCS within 120 minutes of an outage to the 
Commission's Duty Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's 
Communications and Crisis Management Center in Washington, DC. 
Notification may be served on the Commission's Watch Officer on duty at 
the FCC's Columbia Operations Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other 
facility designated by the Commission by regulation or (at the time of 
the emergency) by public announcement only if there is a telephone 
outage or similar emergency in Washington, D.C. * * *
* * * * *
    (h) * * *
    (2) * * * Notification must be served on the Commission's Duty 
Officer, on duty 24 hours a day in the FCC's Communications and Crisis 
Management Center in Washington, DC. Notification may be served on the 
Commission's Watch Officer on duty at the FCC's Columbia Operations 
Center in Columbia, MD, or at such other facility designated by the 
Commission by regulation or (at the time of the emergency) by public 
announcement

[[Page 39453]]

only if there is a telephone outage or similar emergency in Washington, 
DC. * * *
[FR Doc. 97-19354 Filed 7-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P