[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 77220]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-31604]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 0, 43, 63 and 64

[IB Docket Nos. 02-324, 96-261; DA 02-3314]


International Settlements Policy Reform and International 
Settlement Rates

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On October 25, 2002, the Federal Communications Commission 
published a proposed rule document initiating a proceeding to re-
examine the Commission's International Settlements Policy. In light of 
recent international developments, the Commission decided to extend the 
initial pleading cycle by 35 days to allow interested parties an 
opportunity to include in their initial comments any response to these 
recent developments and their effect on the policies under 
consideration in the proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments are due on or before January 14, 2003. Reply Comments 
are due on or before February 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 
445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. See Supplementary 
Information for filing instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Ball, Chief, or Lisa Choi, 
Senior Legal Advisor, Policy Division, International Bureau, (202) 418-
1460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. On October 11, 2002, the Commission 
released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment from 
the public regarding possible reform of its International Settlements 
Policy, International Simple Resale and benchmarks policies, and the 
issue of foreign mobile termination rates. (See 67 FR 65527, October 
25, 2002.)
    2. The Commission has become aware of the recent actions taken by 
several foreign administrations to impose rate floors on international 
termination rates, including U.S.-international accounting rates. 
Actions of this nature raise concerns insofar as they have the 
potential to cause increases in consumer calling rates by raising 
commercially-negotiated termination rates between U.S. and foreign 
carriers. The NPRM in this proceeding specifically asked for comment on 
potential anticompetitive harms to U.S. carriers and consumers from 
foreign carriers with market power.
    3. In light of these recent developments and the questions raised 
in the NPRM regarding possible reform of the Commission's ISP and 
accounting rate policies, we extend the pleading cycle established in 
the NPRM, FCC 02-285, IB Docket Nos. 02-324 & 96-261, by 35 days in 
order to allow interested parties an opportunity to include in their 
initial comments any response to these recent developments and their 
effect on the policies under consideration in the proposed rulemaking. 
We find that the public interest will be served by this brief extension 
of both the comment and reply dates to allow for a more complete record 
in this proceeding.
    4. Accordingly, pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.1 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.1, the new comment due date is January 14, 2003 and the 
new reply comment due date is February 6, 2003. Instructions for filing 
pleadings in this proceeding are set forth in the NPRM, available on 
the Commission's website at http://www.fcc.gov. All comments and reply 
comments will be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257, 
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

Federal Communications Commission.
James Ball,
Chief, Policy Division, International Bureau.
[FR Doc. 02-31604 Filed 12-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P