[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63866-63867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27307]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 00-2327]


Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on Western Wireless's 
Supplemental Filing Relating to Its Petition for Designation as an 
Eligible Telecommunications Carrier on the Crow Reservation in Montana

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In a Public Notice in this proceeding released on October 13, 
2000, the Common Carrier Bureau sought comment on Western Wireless' 
petition and supplemental filing seeking designation of eligibility to 
receive federal universal service support for a service area comprised 
of the Crow Reservation in Montana.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 24, 2000. Reply comments 
are due on or before December 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for where and how to 
file comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard D. Smith (202) 418-7400 TTY: 
(202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 4, 1999, Western Wireless filed 
with the Commission a petition under section 214(e)(6) seeking a 
designation of eligibility to receive federal universal service support 
for a service area comprised of the Crow Reservation in Montana. 
Specifically, Western Wireless contends that telecommunications service 
offered on the Crow Reservation is not subject to the jurisdiction of 
the state commission. On September 10, 1999, the Common Carrier Bureau 
released a Public Notice seeking comment on Western Wireless' petition 
for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC). In 
response, the Montana Commission filed comments asking this Commission 
to dismiss the petition and allow the Montana Commission to consider 
the designation request.
    In the Twelfth Report and Order, 65 FR 47941, August 4, 2000, this 
Commission concluded that it would resolve the threshold question of 
whether Western Wireless is subject to the jurisdiction of the Montana 
Commission for purposes of determining eligibility for federal support 
for services provided on the Crow Reservation. To permit Western 
Wireless a fair opportunity to present its case consistent with the 
guidance provided in the Twelfth Report and Order, the Commission 
allowed Western Wireless an opportunity to supplement its claim that 
the Montana Commission lacks jurisdiction to make the eligibility 
designations for service provided on the Crow Reservation.
    On October 2, 2000, Western Wireless filed a Jurisdictional 
Supplement in response to the Commission's directive in the Twelfth 
Report and Order to support its contention that the state commission 
does not have jurisdiction to designate Western Wireless as an eligible 
telecommunications carrier on the Crow Reservation. Consistent with the 
procedures outlined in the Twelfth Report and Order, the Montana 
Commission and any other interested party shall have 30 days after 
publication of this Public Notice in the

[[Page 63867]]

Federal Register to respond to Western Wireless' original petition and 
supplemental filing. Interested parties will then have 15 days to file 
reply comments. The Commission will send a copy of this Public Notice, 
by overnight express mail, to the Montana Commission. The Commission 
will also publish this Public Notice in the Federal Register. To ensure 
that all interested parties are aware of the comment dates, the Common 
Carrier Bureau will issue a Public Notice following Federal Register 
publication specifying the exact comment and reply comment dates.
    Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 
1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments as follows: comments 
are due November 24, 2000, and reply comments are due December 11, 
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, May 1, 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. 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 S.W., 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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037.
    Pursuant to Sec. 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206, 
this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding 
in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure.

    Dated: October 18, 2000.
Katherine L. Schroder,
Division Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 00-27307 Filed 10-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P