[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32149]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 32

[WC Docket No. 02-269; CC Docket No. 00-199; CC Docket No. 80-286; CC 
Docket No. 99-301; FCC 03-325]


Federal-State Joint Conference on Accounting Issues

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document further delays the implementation of four 
previously adopted accounting and reporting rule changes from January 
1, 2004 through June 30, 2004. The Commission extends the delay of 
implementation in order to allow time for receipt and consideration of 
comments in response to recommendations by the Federal-State Joint 
Conference on Accounting Issues (Joint Conference).

DATES: The effective date for amendments to 47 CFR 32.5200, 32.6562 and 
32.6620 published at 67 FR 5670, February 6, 2002, and delayed at 68 FR 
38641, June 30, 2003, is further delayed through June 30, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane E. Jackson, Associate Chief, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
adopted on December 17, 2003, and released on December 23, 2003. The 
full text of the document is available for public inspection and 
copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information 
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 
20554. This document may also be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 863-
2893, facsimile (202) 863-2898, e-mail [email protected].

Synopsis of Order

    On November 12, 2002, the Commission released an order, 67 FR 
77432, December 18, 2002, delaying until July 1, 2003 the 
implementation of four accounting and reporting requirement rule 
modifications previously adopted by the Commission as part of its 
biennial review of accounting requirements and Automated Reporting 
Management System (ARMIS) reporting requirements, Report and Order, 67 
FR 5670, February 6, 2002. On June 24, 2003, the Commission released 
another order, 68 FR 38641, June 30, 2003, further delaying 
implementation until January 1, 2004. The Commission deferred the 
implementation of these four accounting and reporting requirement rule 
modifications in order to allow the Federal-State Joint Conference on 
Accounting Issues time to consider these and other accounting issues in 
formulating their recommendations to the Commission. These accounting 
and reporting rule changes are as follows: (1) Consolidation of 
Accounts 6621 through 6623 into Account 6620, with sub-accounts for 
wholesale and retail; (2) consolidation of Account 5230, Directory 
revenue, into Account 5200, Miscellaneous revenue; (3) consolidation of 
the depreciation and amortization expense accounts (Accounts 6561 
through 6565) into Account 6562, Depreciation and amortization 
expenses; and (4) revised ``Loop Sheath Kilometers'' data collection in 
Table II of ARMIS Report 43-07.
    On October 9, 2003, the Joint Conference submitted the result of a 
year-long study of the Commission's accounting rules and on-going 
proceedings related to the Commission's accounting requirements. The 
Joint Conference makes several recommendations that directly relate to 
the four accounting rule modifications that are scheduled to go into 
effect on January 1, 2004. Here, the Commission extends through June 
30, 2004 the Commission's current delay of the effective date of four 
accounting rule modifications, to allow time for receipt and 
consideration of comments in response to the Joint Conference's 
recommendations.

Federal Communications Commission
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-32149 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-07-P