[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 44636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21414]



[[Page 44636]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 98-146; FCC 01-223]


Inquiry Concerning the Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications 
Capability to All Americans in a Reasonable and Timely Fashion, and 
Possible Steps To Accelerate Such Deployment Pursuant to Section 706 of 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission begins 
its third inquiry into whether advanced telecommunications capability 
is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.

DATES: Comments are due September 24, 2001. Reply comments are due 
October 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie 
Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 445 12th St., SW., Room TW B-204, Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Blackler, Special Assistant to 
the Bureau Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-0491, TTY: (202) 
418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Third 
Notice of Inquiry (Notice) in CC Docket No. 98-146 released on August 
10, 2001. The full text of the Notice is available for public 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center, Room CY-A257, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20554.

Synopsis of the Inquiry

    1. This Notice begins our third inquiry under section 706 of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 into ``whether advanced 
telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a 
reasonable and timely fashion.'' To help inform this inquiry, we are 
simultaneously releasing our most recent data on subscribership to 
high-speed services. Our first and second inquiries concluded that the 
deployment of advanced telecommunications capability was reasonable and 
timely on a general, nationwide basis. Our Second Report cautioned, 
however, that certain groups of consumers might be particularly 
vulnerable to not receiving timely deployment of advanced 
telecommunications capability by market forces alone. Notwithstanding 
our conclusion that deployment is occurring in a reasonable and timely 
basis, we continue to take steps to remove any barriers to deployment; 
to remove any barriers to investment in technologies that can deliver 
advanced services; and to vigorously promote a competitive marketplace. 
In this inquiry, we re-examine the marketplace in order to determine 
whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all 
Americans in a reasonable and timely manner. This inquiry will build on 
the information we have collected through our previous inquiries, our 
continuing dialogue with the Joint Federal-State Conference on Advanced 
Services (Joint Conference), the Joint Conference's database of 
community deployment efforts, and the records developed in our 
proceedings designed to increase competition and promote deployment.
    2. Specifically, the Notice seeks comment on four areas: (1) 
Whether the Commission's definition of advanced telecommunications 
capability remains appropriate; (2) whether advanced telecommunications 
capability is being deployed to all Americans; (3) whether the 
deployment of advanced telecommunications capability is reasonable and 
timely; and (4) if deployment of advanced telecommunications capability 
is not reasonable and timely, the actions that will accelerate 
deployment. Once the Commission has gathered this information, it will 
release a Report within 180 days detailing its findings.

Ordering Clause

    3. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to section 706 of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996, this Notice of Inquiry is adopted.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-21414 Filed 8-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P