[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 9705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3325]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 01-278]


Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on Western Wireless's 
Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for 
the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In a Public Notice in this proceeding released on February 2, 
2001, the Common Carrier Bureau sought comment on Western Wireless' 
petition seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier 
to receive federal universal service support for a service area 
comprised of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 12, 2001. Reply comments are 
due on or before March 26, 2001.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard D. Smith or Anita Cheng, 
Common Carrier Bureau, Accounting Policy Division, (202) 418-7400 TTY: 
(202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 19, 2001, Western Wireless 
Corporation (Western Wireless) filed with the Commission a petition 
under section 214(e)(6) seeking designation as an eligible 
telecommunications carrier (ETC) to receive federal universal service 
support for the provision of service on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 
South Dakota. Specifically, Western Wireless contends that: (1) 
Telecommunications service offered on the Pine Ridge Reservation is not 
subject to the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Public Utilities 
Commission (South Dakota Commission), (2) Western Wireless meets all 
the statutory and regulatory requirements to be an ETC, and (3) 
designating Western Wireless as an ETC for the Reservation will advance 
the public interest. The Common Carrier Bureau seeks comment on Western 
Wireless' petition.
    In the Twelfth Report and Order, 65 FR 47941, August 4, 2000, the 
Commission concluded that a carrier seeking a designation of 
eligibility to receive federal universal service support for 
telecommunications service provided on tribal lands may petition the 
Commission for designation under section 214(e)(6), without first 
seeking designation from the appropriate state commission. The 
petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the appropriate state 
commission at the time of filing with the Commission. Pursuant to the 
guidelines established in the Twelfth Report and Order, the Commission 
will publish a copy of this Public Notice, or a summary thereof, in the 
Federal Register. The Commission will also send the Public Notice 
announcing the comment and reply comment dates to the South Dakota 
Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the state 
commission is notified of the notice and comment period. To ensure that 
all interested parties are aware of the comment dates, the 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, 
interested parties may file comments as follows: Comments are due March 
12, 2001 and reply comments are due March 26, 2001. 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. 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: February 5, 2001.
Katherine L. Schroder,
Division Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 01-3325 Filed 2-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U