[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 44507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18036]



[[Page 44507]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 00-1536]


Comment Sought on Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service 
Recommendations for Phasing Down Interim Hold-Harmless Provision

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks comment on the Federal-State Joint Board 
on Universal Service recommended decision for phasing down the interim 
hold-harmless provision of the new, forward-looking high-cost universal 
service support mechanism for non-rural carriers.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 14, 2000 and reply comments 
on or before August 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for where and how to 
file comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill J. Scher (202) 418-7400 TTY: 
(202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 30, 2000, the Federal-State Joint 
Board on Universal Service (Joint Board) released a Recommended 
Decision for phasing down the interim hold-harmless provision of the 
new, forward-looking high-cost universal service support mechanism for 
non-rural carriers. The Joint Board recommended that Long Term Support 
(LTS) be maintained under the Commission's current rules until the 
Commission considers appropriate reforms for the LTS program in 
connection with the pending proceedings for high-cost reform for rural 
carriers and/or interstate access charge reform for rate-of-return 
carriers. The Joint Board further recommended that the Commission phase 
down the balance of interim hold-harmless support, excluding LTS, 
through $1.00 reductions in average monthly, per-line support beginning 
January 1, 2001, and every year thereafter. Finally, the Joint Board 
recommended against phasing down any interim hold-harmless support that 
is transferred to a rural carrier when it acquires exchanges from a 
non-rural carrier. Instead, the Joint Board recommended that such 
transferred interim hold-harmless support should be maintained until 
the Commission completes a review of the rule governing the transfer of 
universal service support or until rural high-cost reform is complete. 
In this document, the Common Carrier Bureau seeks comment on the Joint 
Board's recommendations.

Filing Procedures

    Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments on the Recommended Decision on or 
before August 14, 2000, and reply comments on or before August 28, 
2000. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing 
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
    Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file 
via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html>. Generally, 
only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing 
the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, 
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking 
number. Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. 
To receive filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should 
send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include the following words 
in the body of the message, ``get form your e-mail address.'' A sample 
form and directions will be sent in reply.
    Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four 
copies of each filing. All filings must be sent to the Commission's 
Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. 
Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl 
Todd, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street SW., Room 5-B540, 
Washington, DC 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies 
to the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription 
Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
    Pursuant to Sec. 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, this proceeding 
will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte 
communications are permitted subject to disclosure.

    Dated: July 12, 2000.
Katherine L. Schroder,
Deputy Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 00-18036 Filed 7-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U