[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 78 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19754-19755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9869]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 02-746]


Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on RCC Holdings, Inc. 
Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier 
Throughout Its Licensed Service Area in the State of Alabama

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In a public notice in this proceeding released on April 2, 
2002, the Wireline Competition Bureau sought comment on RCC Holdings' 
petition seeking designation of eligibility to receive Federal 
universal service support for a service offered throughout its licensed 
service area in the state of Alabama.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 23, 2002. Reply comments are 
due on or before June 7, 2002.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark G. Seifert, Deputy Chief, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
(202) 418-7400 TTY: (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 19, 2002, RCC Holdings, Inc. (RCC 
Holdings) filed with the Commission a petition pursuant to section 
214(e)(6) seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier 
(ETC) to receive Federal universal service support for service offered 
throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama. 
Specifically, RCC Holdings contends that the Alabama Public Service 
Commission has provided an affirmative statement that it does not 
regulate commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) carriers, RCC Holdings 
meets all the statutory and regulatory prerequisites for ETC 
designation, and designating RCC Holdings as an ETC will serve the 
public interest.
    Pursuant to Sec. 54.207(c) of the Commission's rules, RCC Holdings 
also requests that the Commission redefine the service areas of the 
following rural incumbent local exchange carriers: (1) Butler Telephone 
Company Inc., (2) Alltel of Alabama, (3) Frontier Communications of the 
South, Inc., (4) Frontier Communications of Alabama, Inc., (5) 
Interstate Telephone Company, (6) Millry Telephone Company, and (7) 
Mon-cre Telephone Cooperative Inc. (collectively ``Rural ILECs''). RCC 
Holdings states that it is not licensed to serve the service areas of 
the Rural ILECs in their entirety. RCC Holdings seeks redefinition of 
the service areas of the Rural ILECs in order to be designated an ETC 
only where RCC Holdings is licensed to provide CMRS in the state of 
Alabama. The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the RCC 
Holdings Petition, including the requested service area redefinition.
    The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the Alabama 
Public Service Commission at the time of filing with the Commission. 
The Commission will also send a copy of this Public Notice to the 
Alabama Public Service Commission by overnight express mail to ensure 
that the Alabama Public Service Commission is notified of the notice 
and comment period.
    Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments as follows: comments are due May 
23, 2002, and reply comments are due June 7, 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, U.S. 
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking 
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-
mail. To get 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 appear in the caption of this 
proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each 
additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or 
messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class 
or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to 
experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service

[[Page 19755]]

mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand-
delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's 
Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 
20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All 
hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. 
Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. 
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail 
and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol 
Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, 
and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl 
Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition 
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, Qualex 
International, Portals II, 445 Twelve Street, SW, Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20054.
    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,
Division Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 02-9869 Filed 4-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P