[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23973]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket Nos. 96-262; 94-1; DA 01-2163]


Access Charge Reform, Price Cap Performance Review for Local 
Exchange Carriers

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of the initiation of a cost 
review proceeding for residential and single-line business subscriber 
line charge (SLC) caps. Price cap local exchange carriers are directed 
to file, and parties may provide comment on, cost information so the 
Commission can determine the appropriate SLC cap.

DATES: Cost submissions due October 17, 2001.
    Comments due November 14, 2001.
    Reply comments due November 28, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer McKee, Common Carrier Bureau, 
Competitive Pricing Division, (202) 418-1530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 31, 2000, the Commission released an 
order that adopted an integrated interstate access reform and universal 
service proposal put forth by the members of the Coalition for 
Affordable Local and Long Distance Service (CALLS). See Access Charge 
Reform, Price Cap Performance Review for Local Exchange Carriers, Low-
Volume Long-Distance Users, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal 
Service, Sixth Report and Order in CC Docket Nos. 96-262 and 94-1, 
Report and Order in CC Docket No. 99-249, Eleventh Report and Order in 
CC Docket No. 96-45, 65 FR 38684, June 21, 2000 (CALLS Order). In that 
order, the Commission raised the cap for the primary residential and 
single-line business subscriber line charge (SLC) to $4.35 on July 1, 
2000, and to $5.00 on July 1, 2001. Further scheduled increases were 
also set forth over the next two years, not to begin until the July 1, 
2002 annual access tariff filings, and subject to the following 
Commission review in regard to the primary residential and single-line 
business SLC:

    [W]e shall review any increases to residential and single-line 
business SLC caps above $5.00 to verify that any such increases are 
appropriate and reflect higher costs where they are to be applied. 
We will initiate and complete a cost review proceeding prior to any 
scheduled increases above this cap taking effect to determine the 
appropriate SLC cap. For this proceeding, the price cap [local 
exchange carriers (LECs)] have agreed to provide, and we will 
examine, forward-looking cost information associated with the 
provision of retail voice grade access to the public switched 
telephone network. We will address in that proceeding whether an 
increase in the SLC cap above $5.00 is warranted and, if not, 
whether a decrease in common line charges is warranted.

    See CALLS Order, 65 FR 38684, June 21, 2000. We now initiate the 
proceeding described at paragraph 83 of the CALLS Order. We direct 
price cap LECs to submit the cost information described in that 
paragraph, and invite interested parties to comment on the cost 
submissions.
    This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 
CFR 1.1200 and 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are 
reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain 
summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a 
listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence 
description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. 
See 47 CFR 1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex 
parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in 
section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
    Price cap LECs shall file their cost information no later than 
October 17, 2001. Interested parties may file comments no later than 
November 14, 2001. Reply comments may be filed no later than November 
28, 2001. When filing cost information and comments, please reference 
CC Docket Nos. 96-262 and 94-1.
    An original and four copies of all cost information, comments and 
reply comments must be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-A225, 
Washington, DC 20554. In addition, one copy of each submission must be 
filed with Qualex International, the Commission's duplicating 
contractor, at its office at Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554, and one copy with the Chief, Competitive 
Pricing Division, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 5-A225, Washington, DC 
20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-23973 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P