[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 207 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61215-61216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26955]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 03-2958]


Sprint Corporations' Petition for Designation as an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier in 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 Sprint Corporation's (Sprint) petition. Sprint 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.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 6, 2003. Reply comments 
are due on or before November 20, 2003.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Buckley, Attorney, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 
418-7400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the of the Commission's 
Public Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released September 26, 2003. On 
September 5, 2003, Sprint filed with the Commission a petition pursuant 
to section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
seeking designation as an ETC to receive federal universal service 
support for service offered in portions of its licensed service area in 
Alabama, that are served by three non-rural incumbent local exchange 
carriers--BellSouth Telecommunications, Incorporated, CenturyTel of 
Alabama, LLC (Northern), and CenturyTel of Alabama, LLC (Southern). 
Specifically, Sprint contends that: The Alabama Public Service 
Commission (Alabama Commission) has provided an affirmative statement 
that it does not regulate commercial mobile ratio service (CMRS) 
carriers; Sprint satisfies all the statutory and regulatory 
prerequisites for ETC designation; and designating Sprint as an ETC 
will serve the public interest.
    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 November 6, 2003, and reply comments are 
due on or before November 20, 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 then 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.


[[Page 61216]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Paul Garnett,
Acting Assistant Division Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 03-26955 Filed 10-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P