[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42125-42126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16088]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CG Docket No. 04-208; DA 04-1820]


National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates' 
(NASUCA) Petition for Declaratory Ruling Regarding Truth-in-Billing

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau 
grants a limited extension of the deadline for filing reply comments in 
CG Docket 04-208 on or before August 13, 2004, seeking comment on the 
NASUCA petition for declaratory ruling regarding truth-in-billing and 
billing formats for both wireline and wireless telecommunication 
carriers.

DATES: Comments are due on or before July 14, 2004, and reply comments 
are due on or before August 13, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Yodaiken or Kelli Farmer of the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-2512.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
DA 04-1820, adopted June 23, 2004, and released June 24, 2004. When 
filing comments, please reference CG Docket No. 04-208. Pursuant to 47 
CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before 
July 14, 2004, and reply comments on or before August 13, 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 through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the 
Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/efile/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 electronic media, 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 or electronic media 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 and electronic media sent by 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, Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Room TW-B204, Washington, DC 20554. Parties who choose to file comments 
by paper should also submit their comments on diskette. These diskettes 
should be submitted to Kelli Farmer, Consumer & Governmental Affairs 
Bureau, Policy Division, 445 12th Street, SW., Rm 4-C734, Washington, 
DC 20554. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted 
in an IBM compatible format using Word 97 or compatible software. The 
diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be 
submitted in ``read only'' mode. The diskette should be clearly labeled 
with the commenter's name, proceeding (including the lead docket number 
in this case, CG Docket No 04-208), type of pleading (comment or reply 
comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on 
the diskette. The label should also include the following phrase ``disk 
copy-not an original.'' Each diskette should contain only one party's 
pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. Copies of this 
document are available through the Commission's copy contractor Best 
Copy and Printing Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may also contact BCPI at their 
Web site: http://www.bcpiweb.com or call 1-800-378-3160.
    To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities

[[Page 42126]]

(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail 
to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 
(202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This Order can also be 
downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy/truthinbill.html.

Synopsis

    On May 25, 2004, the Commission released a Public Notice seeking 
comment on the National Association of State Utility Consumer 
Advocates' (NASUCA) petition for declaratory ruling regarding truth-in-
billing and billing formats for both wireline and wireless 
telecommunications carriers. See Petition for Declaratory Ruling, CC 
Docket No. 98-170, filed March 30, 2004. The Public Notice stated that 
interested parties could file comments within 30 and 45 days 
respectively, after its publication in the Federal Register. See 
National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) 
Petition for Declaratory Ruling Regarding Truth-in-Billing and Billing 
Format, CG Docket No. 04-208, Public Notice, 69 FR 33021, June 14, 
2004. The Public Notice was published in the Federal Register on June 
14, 2004, making comments due on or before July 14, 2004, and reply 
comments on or before July 29, 2004. Id. On June 11, 2004, the NASUCA 
filed a motion to extend the deadline for filing reply comments in this 
proceeding. See NASUCA Motion for Extension of Time, CG Docket No. 04-
208 (filed June 11, 2004). In its pleading NASUCA requests an extension 
of time to file reply comments stating that ``[i]n light of the 
important legal, economic and policy issues raised in NASUCA's petition 
and the volume of comments that are likely to be filed in response to 
that petition, the 15-day period allowed for in the Public Notice is 
simply not adequate to permit NASUCA and others to provide the 
Commission with a full reply joining the issues.'' Id. at 2. NASUCA 
goes on to suggest that ``a brief, 15-day extension will greatly 
facilitate the development of a complete record for the Commission's 
review.'' Id. at 2. It is the policy of the Commission that extensions 
of time are not routinely granted. See 47 CFR 1.46(a). In this 
instance, however, the Bureau finds that NASUCA has shown good cause 
for an extension of the deadline for filing reply comments in this 
proceeding. Because of the complexity of the issues involved and the 
high number of comments expected to be filed, we grant a limited 
extension so that parties may file reply comments in this docket on or 
before August 13, 2004.
    Accordingly, it is so ordered, pursuant to the authority delegated 
under section 0.141 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.141, that 
NASUCA's Motion for Extension of Time in the above-captioned proceeding 
is granted to the extent set forth herein.

Federal Communications Commission.
Thomas D. Wyatt,
Deputy Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 04-16088 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P