[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35110-35111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12316]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 02-1005]


Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Guam Cellular and 
Paging, Inc. d/b/a Saipancell Petition for Designation as an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier on the Island of Saipan in the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: This document seeks comments on the Guam Cellular and Paging, 
Inc. d/b/a Saipancell (Saipancell) petition seeking designation of 
eligibility to receive federal universal service support for service 
offered on the island of Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.

DATES: Comments are due on June 17, 2002. Reply comments are due on 
July 1, 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 February 19, 2002, Guam Cellular and 
Paging, Inc. d/b/a Saipancell (Saipancell) 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 service offered on the island of Saipan in the Northern 
Mariana Islands. The Commission issued a Public Notice, 67 FR 13332 
(March 22, 2002), on March 4, 2002 seeking comment on the Saipancell 
Petition. Saipancell subsequently filed an amendment to its petition 
and at Saipancell's direction, the Commission is tolling the filing of 
the Saipancell Petition to April 15, 2002.
    Saipancell contends that the CTC, which has jurisdiction over 
telecommunications in the Northern Mariana Islands, has provided an 
affirmative statement that it does not regulate commercial mobile radio 
service (CMRS) carriers, Saipancell meets all the statutory and 
regulatory prerequisites for ETC designation, and designating 
Saipancell as an ETC will serve the public interest.
    Pursuant to Sec. 54.207(c) of the Commission's rules, Saipancell 
also requests that the Commission redefine the service area of the 
incumbent rural local exchange carrier, Micronesian Telephone 
Corporation (MTC). MTC serves three islands in the Northern Mariana 
Islands--Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Saipancell seeks redefinition of the 
MTC service area to enable Saipancell to be designated as an ETC only 
for the island of Saipan. The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment 
on the Saipancell Petition, including the requested service area 
redefinition. Parties that have already filed comments on the 
Saipancell Petition may, but are not required to, resubmit their 
comments.

[[Page 35111]]

    The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the CTC at 
the time of filing with the Commission. The Commission will also send a 
copy of this Public Notice to the CTC by overnight express mail to 
ensure that the CTC is notified of the notice and comment period.
    Pursuant to Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments as follows: comments are due June 
17, 2002, and reply comments are due July 1, 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  .'' 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 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 a.m. to 7 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 Twelfth Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20054.
    Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a 
permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are 
permitted subject to disclosure.

Federal Communications Commission.
Mark G. Seifert,
Deputy Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy.
[FR Doc. 02-12316 Filed 5-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P