[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36549-36550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15304]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 03-1882]


Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on ALLTEL 
Communications, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Alabama

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau sought 
comment on the ALLTEL Petition. ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL) is 
seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to 
receive federal universal service support for service offered 
throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including 
rural and non-rural areas.

DATES: Comments are due on or before June 30, 2003. Reply comments are 
due on or before July 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further filing 
instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shannon Lipp, Attorney, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 
418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0494.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released June 3, 2003. On April 14, 2003, 
ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL), a commercial mobile radio service 
(CMRS) carrier, 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 
throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including 
rural and non-rural areas. On May 21, 2003, ALLTEL filed an amendment 
to its petition with regard to its proposed service areas. 
Specifically, ALLTEL

[[Page 36550]]

contends that: the Alabama Public Service Commission (Alabama 
Commission) has provided an affirmative statement that it does not 
regulate CMRS carriers; ALLTEL satisfies all the statutory and 
regulatory prerequisites for ETC designation; and designating ALLTEL as 
an ETC will serve the public interest.
    Pursuant to Sec.  54.207(c) of the Commission's rules, ALLTEL also 
requests that the Commission designate ALLTEL as an ETC in service 
areas defined along boundaries that differ from incumbent rural local 
exchange company (LEC) study area boundaries. ALLTEL requests that 
these service areas be redefined on a wire center by wire center basis 
such that each wire center is a separate service area. ALLTEL intends 
to serve each proposed wire center in its entirety. The service areas 
requested by ALLTEL for ETC designation partially cover the study areas 
of ALLTEL Alabama, Inc. (a wireline affiliate of ALLTEL by virtue of 
common ownership by ALLTEL Corporation), Butler Telephone Co. Inc., 
Castleberry Telephone Co. Inc., Frontier Communications of Alabama, 
Frontier Communications of The South, Graceba Total Communications, GTC 
Inc.--AL, Gulf Telephone Co., Hayneville Telephone Co. Inc., Millry 
Telephone Company, Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative, Pine Belt Telephone 
Company, Union Springs Telephone Co. Inc. ALLTEL maintains that the 
proposed redefinition of service areas for ETC purposes is consistent 
with the factors to be considered when redefining a rural telephone 
company service area, as enumerated by the Federal-State Joint Board on 
Universal Service (Joint Board).
    The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the Alabama 
Commission. The Commission will also send a copy of this Public Notice 
to the Alabama Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the 
Alabama Commission is notified of the notice and comment period.
    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 as follows: 
comments are due on or before June 30, 2003, and reply comments are due 
on or before July 7, 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, 
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 
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, Marlene H. Dortch, 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 12th 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 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20054.
    Pursuant to Sec.  1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 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.

Paul Garnett,
Acting Assistant Division Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-15304 Filed 6-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P