[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65527-65528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27312]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 0, 43, 63, and 64

[IB Docket No. 02-324, IB Docket No. 96-261, FCC No 02-285]


International Settlements Policy Reform and International 
Settlement Rates

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document initiates a proceeding to re-examine the 
Commission's International Settlements Policy (ISP). The purpose of 
this proceeding is to: obtain further information about the competitive 
status of the U.S.-international marketplace; seek comment widely on a 
variety of proposals to reform the Commission's current application of 
the ISP and settlement rate policies; and request information on the 
issue of foreign mobile termination rates.

DATES: Comments are due December 10, 2002 and reply comments are due 
January 9, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission at 445 12th Street, SW., 
Room TW-B204, Washington, DC, 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: James Ball, Chief, Policy Division, 
International Bureau, Lisa Choi, Senior Legal Advisor, Policy Division, 
International Bureau or Gardner Foster, Attorney Advisor, Policy 
Division, International Bureau at (202) 418-1460. Information regarding 
this proceeding and others may also be found on the Commission's 
website at www.fcc.gov. Regarding the information collections 
requirements contact Judy Boley at (202) 418-0214, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Rm. 1-C804, Washington, DC 20554 or via Internet at [email protected] 
and Edward C. Springer, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10236 NEOB, 725 17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking in IB Docket No. 02-324; IB Docket No. 96-261; 
FCC 02-285, adopted October 10, 2002 and released on October 11, 2002. 
Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 
CFR 1.415, 1.419 interested parties may file comments on or before 
December 10, 2002, and reply comments on or before January 9, 2003. 
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 (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. Copies of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and any 
subsequently-filed documents in this matter may be obtained from Qualex 
International, in person at 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554, via telephone at (202) 863-2893, via facsimile at 
(202) 863-2898, or via e-mail at [email protected]. The Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking and any associated documents are also available for 
public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at the 
following Commission office: FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork burden

[[Page 65528]]

invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on the following information collection, as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An 
agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject 
to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a 
valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including 
the use of automated collections techniques or other forms of 
information technology. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking contains 
proposed information collections. As part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork burdens, we invite the general public and the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) to take this opportunity to comment on 
the information collections contained in this NPRM, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Public and agency 
comments are due at the same time as other comments on this NPRM; OMB 
comments are due 60 days from date of publication of this NPRM in the 
Federal Register.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    The Commission initiates this rulemaking to examine possible reform 
of our International Settlements Policy (ISP) and International Simple 
Resale (ISR) and benchmarks policies. The Commission's policies in this 
area have been and will continue to protect U.S. consumers where 
competition may be nonexistent or insufficient. The Commission last 
examined the reform of the ISP in 1999. Since then, there has developed 
increased participation and competition in the U.S.-international 
marketplace, decreased settlement and end-user rates, and growing 
liberalization and privatization in foreign markets. In addition, as a 
result of U.S. policies and other factors, the average U.S.-
international settlement rate has fallen from $0.35 in 1997 to $0.14 in 
2001 and, correspondingly, U.S. calling prices have dropped from $0.67 
in 1997 to $0.33 in 2001. These developments provide an opportunity for 
the Commission to review and reform our existing regulatory 
requirements that may be inhibiting the benefits of lower calling 
prices and greater service innovations to consumers. We consider in 
this proceeding adopting more market-based policies. In addition, in 
this NPRM, we inquire whether foreign mobile termination rates may be 
adversely affecting U.S. consumers and the market for U.S.-
international services.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification

    Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Commission 
has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) on the 
possible significant economic impact on small entities by the policies 
and actions considered in the NPRM. The test of the IRFA is set forth. 
Written public comments are requested on this IRFA. Comments must be 
identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the deadlines 
for comments on the NPRM as provided in paragraph 56 of this Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice, 
including the IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration.

Ordering Clauses

    Pursuant to sections 1, 4(i)-4(j), 201-205, 214, 303(r), and 309 of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i)-
154(j), 201-205, 214, 303(r), 309, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
is hereby adopted.
    The Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, 
Reference Information Center shall send a copy of this Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, including the initial regulatory flexibility 
certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration, in accordance with Section 603(a) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq. (1981).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 0, 43, 63 and 64

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-27312 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P