[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50420-50421]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7161]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WC Docket No. 05-337 and CC Docket No. 96-45; FCC 06J-1]


Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service Seeks Comment on 
the Merits of Using Auctions To Determine High-Cost Universal Service 
Support

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal 
Service seeks comment on the use of reverse auctions (competitive 
bidding) to determine high cost universal service funding to eligible 
telecommunications carriers pursuant to section 254 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 10, 2006. Reply comments 
are due on or before November 8, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. See Supplementary Information for further filing 
instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Dillner, Office of Commissioner 
Tate, (202) 418-2500, or Thomas Buckley, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
(202) 418-7400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of Federal-State Joint 
Board on Universal Service Seeks Comment on the Merits of Using 
Auctions to Determine High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket 
No. 05-337 and CC Docket No. 96-45, FCC 06J-1, released August 11, 
2006. In this Public Notice, the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal 
Service (Joint Board) invites parties to comment on the use of reverse 
auctions (competitive bidding) to determine high cost universal service 
funding for eligible telecommunications carriers pursuant to section 
254 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). The Joint 
Board, among other things, asks that interested parties provide comment 
regarding whether and how competitive bidding could be utilized to 
further the goals of the Act and the Commission's universal service 
goals. In particular, the Joint Board seeks comment on a variety of 
issues concerning competitive bidding, including the appropriateness of 
using auctions as part of the universal service program, as well as 
legal issues concerning such a methodology. The Joint Board further 
encourages parties to submit specific, comprehensive auction proposals, 
in addition to auction proposals that have been referenced in past 
Commission universal service proceedings. The Joint Board also seeks 
comment on how competitive bidding could be utilized to further address 
any other criteria or issues related to the receipt of universal 
service support described in the Joint Board's August 2004 Public 
Notice, 69 FR 53917, September 3, 2004. Commenters are further invited 
to supplement the record with respect to any additional issues or facts 
that have been raised since previous comment periods closed in this 
proceeding.

Comment Filing Procedures

    1. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR Sec. Sec.  1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file 
comments are due on or before October 10, 2006 and reply comments are 
due on or before November 8, 2006. Comments should be filed in WC 
Docket No. 05-337 only. Comments may be filed using: (1) The 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal 
Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See 
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, 
May 1, 1998.
    2. Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using 
the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    3. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site 
for submitting comments.
    4. For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear 
in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic 
copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in 
the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 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, 
filers should send an e-mail to [email protected], and include the 
following words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form 
and directions will be sent in response.
    5. Paper Filers: 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, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    6. 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). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    7. The Commission's contractor 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.
    8. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300

[[Page 50421]]

East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
    9. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    10. People With Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (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), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).
    11. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc, 445 
12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554; Web site: 
www.bcpiweb.com; phone: 1-800-378-3160; Antoinette Stevens, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
445 12th Street, SW., Room 5-B540, Washington, DC 20554; e-mail: 
[email protected].
    12. Filings and comments are also 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. Copies may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, BCPI, 445 12th Street, SW., Room 
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact BCPI through its 
Web site: www.bcipweb.com, by e-mail at [email protected], by telephone 
at (202) 488-5300 or (800) 378-3160, or by facsimile at (202) 488-5563.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06-7161 Filed 8-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M