[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 59 (Thursday, March 27, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 14939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7319]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 96-146; DA 03-807]


The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Seeks Comments To 
Refresh Record on Rules Governing Interstate Pay-per-Call and Other 
Information Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On July 11, 1996, the Commission released a document which 
amended the Commission's rules governing interstate pay-per-call and 
other information services to conform with the requirements of the 
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). Through amendments to 
section 228, the 1996 Act addressed abusive practices that threatened 
public confidence in toll-free numbers and left telephone subscribers 
vulnerable to unexpected charges for calls and information services. 
The rule amendments were designed to comply with this statutory 
mandate. 47 CFR 64.1501 et seq. The Order and Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking proposed new rules to correct abuses involving presubscribed 
information services and the use of 800 numbers and other toll free 
numbers to charge subscribers for information services. This document 
seeks comment to refresh the record regarding issues outlined in the 
Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in 1996.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 12, 2003 and reply comments 
are due on or before May 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. See Supplementary Information for 
filing instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Calvin Osborne, Policy Division, 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 418-2512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice released March 17, 2003. On July 11, 1996, the Commission 
released an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 61 FR 39107, July 
26, 1996, which, among other things, amended the Commission's rules 
governing interstate pay-per-call and other information services to 
conform with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 
(1996 Act). Through amendments to section 228, the 1996 Act addressed 
abusive practices that threatened public confidence in toll-free 
numbers and left telephone subscribers vulnerable to unexpected charges 
for calls and information services. The rule amendments were designed 
to comply with this statutory mandate. 47 CFR 64.1501 et seq. The Order 
and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposed new rules to correct abuses 
involving presubscribed information services and the use of 800 numbers 
and other toll free numbers to charge subscribers for information 
services. In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission proposed 
limited modifications to the Commission's rules which contain our 
presubscription definition, toll-free number limitations, and billing 
requirements. Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 11 FCC Rcd at 
14752-56, paras. 42-48. We also sought comment on whether additional 
regulations were necessary to protect consumers from certain practices 
by common carriers involved in transmitting interstate information 
services that could be interpreted as not being just and reasonable 
under section 201(b) of the Communications Act. We now seek comment to 
refresh the record regarding the issues outlined in the Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking. Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested 
parties may file comments on or before May 12, 2003, and reply to 
comments on or before May 27, 2003. Comments may be filed using the 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper 
copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic 
file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. 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 appears 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 who choose to 
file comments by paper must file an original and four copies with the 
Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary. 
Comments may also be filed using the Commission's Electronic Filing 
System, which can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html.

Federal Communications Commission.
Margaret M. Egler,
Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 03-7319 Filed 3-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P