[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4156-4157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1837]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 03-3731]


Public Service Cellular, Inc. for Designation as an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier in Georgia

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 Public Service Cellular, Inc. (PSC) petition. PSC 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 Georgia.

DATES: Comments are due on or before February 9, 2004. Reply comments 
are due on or before February 23, 2004.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott A. Mackoul, Attorney, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 
418-7498, TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released November 20, 2003. On September 
23, 2003, PSC filed with the Commission a petition pursuant to section 
214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to receive 
federal universal service support in the State of Georgia. PSC 
specifically seeks ETC designation to receive support for the service 
it provides in its commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) licensed 
areas that are currently served by non-rural telephone companies and 
Public Service Telephone Company (PSTC), which is a rural telephone 
company and a commonly owned affiliate of PSC. In support of its 
request, PSC contends that: the Georgia Public Service Commission 
(Georgia Commission) has provided an affirmative statement that it does 
not exercise jurisdiction over CMRS carriers in general, and PSC 
specifically, for purposes of making determinations concerning 
eligibility for ETC designations; PSC satisfies all the statutory and 
regulatory prerequisites for ETC designation; and designating PSC as an 
ETC will serve the public interest.
    Pursuant to Sec. 54.207 of the Commission's rules, PSC also 
requests that the Commission designate PSC as an ETC in service areas 
defined along boundaries that differ from PSTC's rural study area 
boundary. PSC requests that each PSTC wire center in which PSC intends 
to provide service is classified as a separate service area on a wire 
center by wire center basis. PSC also states that PSTC's wire centers 
are completely within PSC's CMRS service areas except for the Culloden 
and Lizella wire centers. PSC requests ETC designation in the portions 
of each of the Culloden and Lizella wire centers where it is licensed 
to provide mobile services. PSC 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. The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on 
PSC's petition.
    The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the Georgia 
Commission. The Commission will also send a copy of this Public Notice 
to the Georgia Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the 
Georgia 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 February 9, 2004, and reply comments are 
due on or before February 23, 2004. 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 with the Commission 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, Natek, 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,

[[Page 4157]]

Qualex International, 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.

Sharon Webber,
Deputy Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access 
Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 04-1837 Filed 1-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P