[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 154 (Monday, August 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47564-47565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20324]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket 96-45; DA 03-2469]


Updating Line Counts Used in Calculating High-Cost Support for 
Non-Rural Carriers

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) 
seeks additional comment on updating line counts in the Commission's 
forward-looking cost model for purposes of determining support for non-
rural carriers following a Commission decision in the Ninth Report and 
Order, 64 FR 67416, December 1, 1999, remand proceeding.

DATES: Comments are due on or before September 2, 2003. Reply Comments 
are due on or before September 10, 2003.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie King or Thomas Buckley, 
Attorneys, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access 
Policy Division (202) 418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Bureau's Public 
Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released July 24, 2003. On January 7, 
2003, the Bureau released a Public Notice seeking comment on how line 
count and other discrete input values should be updated for purposes of 
determining non-rural high-cost support. Consistent with past 
precedent, the Bureau sought comment on using year-end 2001 line counts 
filed July 31, 2002, as input values for purposes of estimating average 
forward-looking costs and determining support for non-rural carriers 
during 2003. The Bureau also sought comment on using the same 
methodology that it has used in the past to update special access 
lines.
    In this Public Notice, the Bureau seeks additional comment on 
issues raised by parties concerning special access line updates in 
response to the 2003 Line Counts Public Notice, 68 FR 6744, February 
10, 2003. The cost model uses simplifying assumptions to estimate the 
costs of serving high-capacity special access lines, for example by 
treating DS 3 lines as voice grade equivalents to calculate per-line 
costs. Some commenters contend that this methodology causes the model 
to overstate the total number of lines served by non-rural carriers 
and, therefore, to underestimate per-line costs. Commenters maintain 
that recent DS 3 special access line growth exacerbates these effects. 
In addition, some commenters argue that allocating special access lines 
reported in ARMIS to wire centers based on the 1999 Data Request 
understates per-line costs in rural and high-cost areas by assigning 
too many special access lines to these areas.
    Therefore, the Bureau seeks additional comment on updating special 
access lines in the model for purposes of determining non-rural high-
cost support. The Bureau seeks comment on whether, in light of recent 
special access line growth trends, zeroing out special access lines in 
the cost model's calculations would be a reasonable approach to 
estimating costs using the current model platform. Alternatively, the 
Bureau seeks comment on other

[[Page 47565]]

proposals for estimating special line growth. In the event that the 
Bureau decides to update special access lines, consistent with its 
prior practice, the Bureau also seeks comment on whether it should 
continue to allocate these updated special access lines to wire centers 
based on the 1999 Data Request, or whether it should use an alternative 
methodology.
    The Bureau seeks comment on whether to update the cost model with 
year-end 2002 line count data filed July 31, 2003 for purposes of 
estimating average forward-looking costs and determining support for 
non-rural carriers following a Commission decision in the Ninth Report 
and Order remand proceeding. The Bureau notes that new line count data 
will be available shortly. Moreover, in light of the statutory deadline 
of October 16, 2003, for a Commission decision in the remand 
proceeding, it is unlikely that the new version of the forward-looking 
cost model with updated inputs will be utilized for purposes of 
calculating support until January 1, 2004.
    Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
interested parties may file comments as follows: Comments are due on or 
before September 2, 2003, and reply comments are due on or before 
September 10, 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 section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, this 
proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in 
which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure.

    Federal Communications Commission.
William Scher,
Assistant Division Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-20324 Filed 8-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P