[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 8, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5479]



[[Page 12135]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[CC Docket Nos. 96-45 and 97-21; FCC 00-65]


Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Changes to the 
Board of Directors of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc.

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document concerning the Federal-State Joint Board on 
Universal Service amends a procedural rule regarding the time period 
during which the Commission must issue a written decision in response 
to a request for review of a decision issued by the Schools and 
Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company.

DATES: Effective March 8, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Chang, Attorney, Common Carrier 
Bureau, Accounting Policy Division, (202) 418-7400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of a Commission's Order in 
CC Docket Nos. 96-45 and 97-21 released on March 1, 2000. The full text 
of this document is available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room CY-A257, 445 Twelfth 
Street, SW, Washington, DC, 20554.
    1. In this Order, we amend a procedural rule regarding the time 
period during which the Commission must issue a written decision in 
response to a request for review of a decision issued by the Schools 
and Libraries Division of the Universal Service Administrative Company 
(USAC or Administrator). Section 54.724 of the Commission's rules 
provides that, when a request for review is properly before the Common 
Carrier Bureau (Bureau) or the Commission, a written decision must be 
issued within ninety days unless the time period for taking action on 
the request for review is extended. In this Order, we amend that rule 
to make clear that the Bureau may extend, for up to ninety days, the 
time period for taking action on a request for review of an 
Administrator's decision that is pending before the Bureau or the 
Commission pursuant to Sec. 54.724 of the Commission's rules. We also 
clarify that the Commission may extend the time period for taking 
action on a pending request for review of an Administrator's decision 
that is before either the Bureau or the Commission, but the Commission 
is not limited to a maximum 90-day extension period. We believe this 
procedural amendment will facilitate our administrative processes. 
Accordingly, as set forth, we amend Sec. 54.724 of the Commission's 
rules to clarify that the Bureau may extend, for up to ninety days, the 
time period for taking action on requests for review of the 
Administrator's decisions that are before either the Bureau or the 
Commission.

Ordering Clauses

    2. The authority contained in sections 1-4, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 
303(r), 403, and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
this Order is adopted.
    3. The authority contained in sections 1-4, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 
303(r), 403, and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, is 
revised as set forth.
    4. This action is exempt from the notice and comment requirements 
of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. section 553, because it 
affects only rules of agency procedure or practice.
    5. Because this action involves an internal procedural matter not 
affecting the substantive rights of any entity, the rule change set 
forth is effective immediately upon publication in the Federal 
Register.

List of Subjects 47 CFR Part 54

    Universal service.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    Part 54 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended 
as follows:

PART 54--UNIVERSAL SERVICE

    1. The authority citation for part 54 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1, 4(i), 201, 205, 214, and 254 unless 
otherwise noted.

    2. Section 54.724 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 54.724  Time periods for Commission approval of Administrator 
decisions.

    (a) If the Common Carrier Bureau does not take action within ninety 
(90) days upon appeals that are properly before it, a decision issued 
by the Administrator shall be deemed approved. The Commission may 
extend the time period for taking action on a request for review of an 
Administrator decision. The Common Carrier Bureau also may extend the 
time period for taking action on a request for review of an 
Administrator decision for a period of up to ninety days.
    (b) The Commission shall issue a written decision in response to a 
request for review of an Administrator decision that involves novel 
questions of fact, law or policy within ninety (90) days. The 
Commission may extend the time period for taking action on the request 
for review of an Administrator decision. The Common Carrier Bureau also 
may extend the time period for taking action on a request for review of 
an Administrator decision for a period of up to ninety days.
[FR Doc. 00-5479 Filed 3-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P