[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 12087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5816]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 02-60; FCC 04-15]


Rural Health Care Support Mechanism

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission reconsiders, on its own 
motion, requirements in the Commission's rules that the Universal 
Service Administrative Company (USAC) submit to the Commission an 
annual report on the rural health care program on the first business 
day in May of each year. The Commission recently made a number of 
changes to the rural health care program to improve the program's 
effectiveness. In the Rural Health Care Order, 68 FR 74492, December 
24, 2003, the Commission expanded the entities eligible to participate 
in the program, added Internet access to the list of services eligible 
for discounts, and modified the way in which telecommunications service 
discounts are calculated. The Commission does not believe it necessary 
for USAC to submit two separate annual reports to the Commission on the 
rural health care program.

DATES: Effective April 14, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Law-Hsu, Deputy Chief, (202) 
418-7400, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy 
Division.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
on Reconsideration, in WC Docket No. 02-60, FCC 04-15, released January 
16, 2004. The full text of this document is available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Room CY-A257, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

I. Introduction

    1. In this Order on Reconsideration, the Commission reconsiders, on 
its own motion, the requirement in Sec.  54.619(d) of the Commission's 
rules that the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) submit 
to the Commission an annual report on the rural health care program on 
the first business day in May of each year. In the Rural Health Care 
Order, the Commission recently made a number of changes to the rural 
health care program to improve the program's effectiveness. The 
Commission expanded the entities eligible to participate in the 
program, added Internet access to the list of services eligible for 
discounts, and modified the way in which telecommunications service 
discounts are calculated. Although the Commission made other changes to 
Sec.  54.619 in this recent order, it made no changes to Sec.  
54.619(d). Section 54.702(g) already requires USAC to submit an annual 
report detailing its activities and information for each of the support 
mechanisms, including the rural health care program, to the Commission 
by March 31, of each year.
    2. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA), see 5 
U.S.C. 605(b), requires that a regulatory flexibility analysis be 
prepared for notice and comment rulemaking proceedings unless the 
agency certifies that ``the rule will not, if promulgated, have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.'' The Commission hereby so certifies, because our action 
relieves affected entities, including small entities, of an unnecessary 
reporting requirement and therefore results in a positive economic 
impact. The Commission also expects that that impact will not 
significant.

II. Ordering Clauses

    3. Pursuant to the authority contained in sections 1-4, 201-202, 
254, and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sec.  
1.108 of the Commission's rules, this Order on Reconsideration is 
adopted.
    4. Part 54 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 54.619(d), is amended, 
as set forth effective April 14, 2004.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 54

    Communications common carrier, Telecommunications, Telephone.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rule

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission amends 47 CFR part 54 as follows:

PART 54--UNIVERSAL SERVICE

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1. The authority citation for Part 54 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 1, 4(i), 201, 205, 214, and 254 unless 
otherwise noted.


Sec.  54.619  [Amended]

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2. Amend Sec.  54.619 by removing paragraph (d).

[FR Doc. 04-5816 Filed 3-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P