[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 76 (Monday, April 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 19542]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9686]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CG Docket No. 03-84; DA 03-867]


The Bundling of Local Telephone Service With Long Distance 
Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comments on a petition 
for declaratory ruling concerning the bundling of local telephone 
service with long distance service.

DATES: Comments are due on June 5, 2003, and reply comments are due 
June 20, 2003.

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

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public notice was released on March 27, 
2003, regarding a petitioner who filed a Petition for Declaratory 
Ruling with the Federal Communications Commission on August 9, 2002. 
The petitioner's petition was filed pursuant to an Order by the United 
States District Court for the Middle District of Florida which referred 
several questions to the Commission under the doctrine of primary 
jurisdiction. The petitioner requests that the Commission issue a 
ruling on the following issues: (1) Whether the state claims set forth 
by petitioner in the complaint are preempted by the Communications Act 
giving exclusive jurisdiction to the Commission; (2) whether local 
telephone service providers may provide local service only to their 
customers, or must, by virtue of their filed tariff rates or otherwise, 
bundle local service with long distance service, even where a customer 
has no need for long distance service; and (3) if long distance service 
is not required to be bundled with local service in all events, if the 
practice of bundling these services is a violation of the 
Communications Act.
    The Commission seeks comment on the three issues outlined in the 
filing. 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 June 5, 2003, and reply comments on or before June 20, 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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Margaret M. Egler,
Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 03-9686 Filed 4-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P