[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50172-50173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20876]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36 and 54

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 00-1825]


Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on Updating Line Counts for 
Calculating High-Cost Universal Service Support for Non-Rural Carriers 
for the Year 2001

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In a Public Notice in this proceeding released on July 24, 
2000, the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) sought comment on updating 
line count values for purposes of determining support for the year 
2001. In this document, the Bureau extends the comment cycle of that 
Public Notice. The Bureau has extended the comment cycle to give the 
public more time to respond. The Bureau extends the original comment 
date from August 28, 2000 to August 30, 2000. The reply comment date 
has been extended from August 15, 2000 to September 6, 2000.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 30, 2000 and reply comments 
on or before September 6, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, room TW-B204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie King, Attorney, Common Carrier 
Bureau, Accounting Policy Division, (202) 418-7400 TTY: (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The full text of this document is available 
for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the 
FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. This document may also be purchased 
from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription 
Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036, 
telephone 202-857-3800, facsimile 202-857-3805.
    On July 24, 2000, the Common Carrier Bureau released a Public 
Notice seeking comment on updating line counts for calculating high-
cost universal service support for non-rural carriers for the year 2001 
and establishing comment and reply comment dates of August 8 and August 
15, 2000, respectively. We extend the comment and reply comment dates 
to August 30 and September 6, 2000, respectively. Accordingly, reply 
comments addressing comments filed August 8 and August 30, 2000 are due 
September 6, 2000.
    On October 21, 1999, the Commission adopted two orders implementing 
a new high-cost universal service support mechanism for non-rural 
carriers for determining support beginning January 1, 2000. The 
Commission recognized the importance of updating the inputs in the 
universal service cost model as technology and other conditions change. 
On April 7, 2000, the Commission released an order clarifying how 
updated line count data, filed by non-rural carriers every quarter, 
would be used to determine support amounts for the year 2000. In this 
Public Notice, we seek comment on updating line count input values for 
purposes of determining support for the year 2001.
    Line counts are used for two general purposes in the high-cost 
support mechanism for non-rural carriers. First, line counts are used 
in the universal service cost model to estimate the forward-looking 
costs of providing supported services. Second, line counts are used to 
calculate support based on those costs and target that support to high-
cost areas.
    We seek comment on updating line count data in the universal 
service cost model. If the line count input values are not updated, 
non-rural support would continue to increase indefinitely because of 
line growth. Thus, the non-rural high-cost support mechanism would 
never take into account the economies of scale resulting from serving 
more lines. On July 31, 2000, non-rural carriers will file year-end 
1999 wire center line count data. We specifically seek comment on 
whether the Commission should update the line count input values used 
in the cost model for purposes of determining support amounts for the 
year 2001. If the Commission were to use these updated line counts in 
the model, we seek comment on how these line counts, which are USF 
loops, should be allocated to the classes of service used in the model. 
In particular, we seek comment on whether the Commission should use 
wire center line count data filed by non-rural carriers pursuant to the 
1999 Data Request to allocate lines to the classes of service used in 
the model. If the Commission were to use the 1999 Data Request to 
allocate USF loops to switched line categories, we also seek comment on 
how to determine the number of special lines in each wire center. Now 
that carriers file wire center line count data, these line counts 
should be matched to the wire centers used in the model. Accordingly, 
we also seek comment on how to match the quarterly wire center line 
counts with the wire centers in the model.
    Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments on or before August 30, 2000 and 
reply comments on or before September 6, 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 24,121 (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. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the 
caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. 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. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the caption of this

[[Page 50173]]

proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each 
additional docket or rulemaking number. 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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Katherine L. Schroder,
Deputy Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 00-20876 Filed 8-16-00; 8:45 am]
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