[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 13332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6929]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 02-376]


Commission Seeks Comment on AT&T Request To Contribute to 
Universal Service Based on Projected Revenues

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks comments on AT&T request to the Commission 
to permit it to contribute based on its projected revenues for the 
current quarter, subject to true up with actual revenues, instead of 
contributing to universal service based on historical revenues from two 
quarters prior.

DATES: Comments are due on or before April 12, 2002. Reply comments are 
due on or before April 22, 2002.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 13, 2001, AT&T filed a request 
with the Commission to contribute to universal service based on its 
projected revenues on a going-forward basis. Pursuant to Sec. 54.711(c) 
of the Commission's rules, universal service contributions are based on 
a contributors' historical gross-billed end-user interstate and 
international telecommunications revenues, which are reported on a 
quarterly basis on the FCC Form 499-Q. The FCC Form 499-Q instructs 
contributors to report their revenues from the prior calendar quarter. 
These revenue data then serve as the basis for contributions assessed 
in the next calendar quarter. AT&T asks the Commission to permit it to 
contribute based on its projected revenues for the current quarter, 
subject to true up with actual revenues, instead of contributing to 
universal service based on historical revenues from two quarters prior. 
AT&T contends that grant of its request is warranted because the 
interval between reporting and assessment of contributions under the 
current rules, combined with AT&T's declining interstate and 
international revenues, force it to recover its universal service 
contributions from a smaller customer base than the one on which it was 
assessed. We seek comment on AT&T's request.
    Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments on or before April 12, 2002, and 
reply comments are due on or before April 22, 2002. 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. If more 
than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this 
proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each 
additional docket or rulemaking number. All filings must be sent to the 
Commission's Acting Secretary, William Caton, 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-A422, 
Washington, DC 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies 
to the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554.
    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,
Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 02-6929 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P