[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 217 (Thursday, November 9, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65743-65751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-18842]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36, 51, 52, 53, 54, 63, 64 and 69

[WC Docket No. 02-313; FCC 06-86]


Biennial Regulatory Review of Regulations Administered by the 
Wireline Competition Bureau

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission or FCC) reviews rules that apply to the operations and 
activities of providers of telecommunications services and repeals or 
modifies previous regulations no longer necessary in the public 
interest, obsolete, outdated, expired of their terms, or containing 
drafting or typographical errors.

DATES: Effective December 11, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie-Lee Early, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, (202) 418-2776 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order in WC Docket No. 02-313, adopted June 20, 2006 and released 
August 21, 2006. The complete text of this document is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals H, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-
A257, Washington DC 20554. This document may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 
12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (800) 
378-3160 or (202) 863-2893, facsimile (202) 863-2989, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. It is also available on the Commission's Web site at 
http://www.fcc.gov. The Notice of Proposed Rule Making which initiated 
the rule changes set forth in the Report and Order was published at 69 
FR 12814, March 18, 2004. The rule changes do not cause any new 
information collection requirements subject to the PRA of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13. They also do not create any new or modified ``information 
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Synopsis of the Report and Order

    1. Background. Section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended (Act), requires the Commission to review biennially its 
regulations that apply to the operations and activities of providers of 
telecommunications service and to determine whether the regulations are 
``no longer necessary as the result of meaningful economic competition 
between providers of such service.'' See 47 U.S.C. 161(a).
    2. Discussion. In this Order, we impose no new rules; rather, we 
repeal or modify regulations that are no longer necessary in the public 
interest, obsolete, outdated, have expired of their terms, or contain 
drafting or typographical errors. The revisions reduce regulatory 
compliance burdens by eliminating the requirements and uncertainties 
described below.
    3. Part 36--Jurisdictional Separations Procedures: With respect to 
the fundamental principles underlying jurisdictional separations 
procedures, the Commission clarifies in Sec.  36.2(b)(3)(ii) that 
holding-time-minutes is the measurement unit for apportioning both 
local and toll switching plant. The Commission also clarifies, in Sec.  
36.2(b)(3)(iv), that subscriber plant is to be apportioned using the 25 
percent Gross Allocator.
    4. The Commission clarifies, in Sec.  36.125(f), application of the 
weighting factor in apportioning to interstate jurisdiction certain 
Category 3 telecommunication property investments for study areas with 
fewer than 50,000 access lines. The Commission also repeals Sec. Sec.  
36.154(d) through (f) because those sections are no longer in effect, 
and deletes references to those provisions. Because their termination 
dates have passed, the Commission also repeals Sec. Sec.  36.631(a) and 
(b) and 36.641. The Commission also clarifies the application of Sec.  
36.631(d) to apply only non-rural telephone companies serving study 
areas reporting more than 200,000 working loops. With respect to the 
universal service fund rules, the Commission clarifies that Sec.  
36.631(d) applies only to non-rural telephone companies serving study 
areas reporting more than 200,000 working loops.
    5. In addition, because they reference payphone services that are 
no longer regulated, the Commission eliminates the last sentence of 
Sec.  36.142(a) addressing coinless pay telephone equipment and the 
last sentence of Sec.  36.377(a)(7) addressing expenses related to coin 
collection and administration.
    6. The Commission also corrects three instances of transposed 
wording in Sec.  36.377(a)(5): in subparagraphs (i) and (v), 
``interstate'' is corrected to ``State,'' and in subparagraph (vi), 
``State'' is changed to ``Interstate.'' Similarly, the Commission 
eliminates, as obsolete, all references to Teletypwriter Exchange 
Service (TWX) in part 36 because no carrier has reported data through 
the Automated Reporting Management System (ARMIS) system since it was 
established in 1988.
    7. Part 42--Preservation of Records of Communications Carriers: The 
United States Telecom Association (USTA) filed comments recommending 
the elimination of Sec. Sec.  42.1 through 42.9 asserting that these 
regulations are outdated and unnecessary. USTA, however, did not offer 
any support for its assertions, nor did USTA make proposals regarding 
less costly and more efficient ways to collect, preserve and maintain 
carrier records and reports. Neither USTA's brief comment nor its 
incorporation of arguments from previous Biennial Review dockets, 
convince us that elimination or modification of part 42 is warranted at 
this time. Accordingly, we conclude that current part 42 record 
retention requirements assist the Commission to carry out its 
regulatory responsibilities and therefore continue to be necessary in 
the public interest at this time.
    8. Part 51--Interconnection: The Commission eliminates Sec. Sec.  
51.211(a)-(f), 51.213(c)-(d), which imposed deadlines on Local Exchange 
Carriers (LECs) and Bell Operating Companies to implement toll dialing 
parity or to notify the Commission of their failure to do so. The 
provisions no longer are relevant as the compliance deadlines have 
expired. Similarly, because their effective dates have expired, the 
Commission eliminates Sec. Sec.  51.515(b) and (c) which permitted 
incumbent LECs to assess certain interstate access charges and 
intrastate access charges on purchasers of unbundled elements until 
June 30, 1997.
    9. The Commission also eliminates, as no longer necessary in the 
public interest, Sec.  51.329(c)(3) which required incumbent LECs to 
send paper and diskette copies of network change public notices or 
certifications to the Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau.
    10. Part 52--Numbering: With respect to the scope and authority of 
the

[[Page 65744]]

numbering rules, the Commission updates part 52 to reflect two 
developments: it revises the Sec.  52.5 list of United States 
territories taking part in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) to 
reflect American Samoa's participation and changes a reference to the 
``Common Carrier Bureau'' to the ``Wireline Competition Bureau.''
    11. In addition, regarding numbering administration, because the 
North American Numbering Council is no longer responsible for 
recommending to the Commission the entity to serve as the North 
American Numbering Plan Administrator, the Commission repeals Sec.  
52.11(d).
    12. Further, because the North American Numbering Plan 
Administrator, rather than telecommunications carriers, now performs 
central office code administration, the Commission repeals Sec.  
52.15(c), portions of Sec.  52.15(d), and Sec.  52.15(e) in its 
entirety.
    13. The Commission also modifies the introductory paragraph and 
subsection (3) of Sec.  52.13(b), which governs the duties of the North 
American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) to reflect the existing 
role of the Commission in setting numbering policy. The Commission also 
modifies Sec. Sec.  52.13(c)(4) and 52.15(b)(3) to reflect that the 
Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast has replaced the Central Office 
Code Utilization Survey (COCUS).
    14. In the number portability context, the Commission eliminates 
Sec. Sec.  52.27 and 52.29 which provided rules applicable to 
transitional number portability measures because long-term database 
methods have been developed.
    15. Because the timeframe identified in the rule has expired, the 
Commission also eliminates Sec.  52.31(c) which provided Local Number 
Portability (LNP) deployment deadlines.
    16. Part 53--Special Provisions Concerning Bell Operating 
Companies: The Commission eliminates Sec.  53.101 because the 
expiration date of the prohibition against Bell Operating Company joint 
marketing of local and interLATA services has passed.
    17. Part 54--Universal Service: With regard to the rules governing 
carriers eligible for universal service support, the Commission 
eliminates Sec.  54.201(a)(2) because the waiver mechanism it provided 
to state commissions to request retroactive support and eligible 
telecommunications carrier (ETC) status for certain carriers is no 
longer necessary in the public interest.
    18. With respect to universal service support for high cost areas, 
the Commission eliminates Sec.  54.313(d)(1) and (2) as the Universal 
Service Program certification deadlines associated with long term 
support for non-rural carriers have expired.
    19. In the context of universal service support for schools and 
libraries, the Commission removes obsolete parts of Sec.  54.507(b) 
which addressed the length of the 1998-1999 funding year, the first 
year of the Universal Service Schools and Library Program.
    20. With respect to universal service support for health care 
providers, the Commission eliminates expired sections Sec.  
54.604(a)(2) and (d) which pertained to specified exemptions to the 
Universal Service Program competitive bid requirements applicable to 
eligible health care provider contracts with telecommunications service 
providers during 1998 and 1999.
    21. The Commission eliminates Sec. Sec.  54.623(c)(2) and (3) as 
their provisions are redundant or unnecessary. The Commission modifies 
Sec.  54.623(b) to eliminate an outdated reference to the already-
passed initiation of the rural health care mechanism. The Commission 
also modifies Sec.  54.623(c)(4) to clarify that all applications filed 
by rural health care providers within the filing window, as determined 
by the Administrator, will be treated as simultaneously received.
    22. Part 63--Extension of Lines, New Lines, and Discontinuance, 
Reduction, Outage and Impairment of Service by Common Carriers; and 
Grants of Recognized Private Operating Agency Status: The Commission 
clarifies, in Sec.  63.61, that non-dominant carriers which seek to 
discontinue, reduce, or impair service, must file for and receive 
authority from the Commission in order to take such action. This change 
was mistakenly omitted when Sec.  63.71 was adopted. The Commission 
also modifies Sec. Sec.  63.61 and 63.71 to clarify that the 
procedures, such as filing deadlines, for the discontinuance, reduction 
or impairment of international services are governed by Sec.  63.19.
    23. In Sec. Sec.  63.71(a)(5)(i) and (ii) the Commission clarifies 
descriptions of notice periods and procedures set forth in exemplar 
language which carriers use to advise affected customers of proposed 
discontinuances, reductions, or impairments of service, and of their 
rights to comment to the Commission.
    24. Part 64--Miscellaneous Rules Relating to Common Carriers: The 
Commission repeals the expired September 20, 1998 deadline in Sec.  
64.1330(c) to eliminate confusion about the on-going nature of the 
requirements under section 276 and under Sec. Sec.  64.1330(a) and (c) 
regarding public interest payphones.
    25. The Commission eliminates Sec.  64.1903(c) which provided 
certain incumbent independent local exchange carriers a now expired 
deadline in which to comply with specified obligations to provide 
services through a separate affiliate. The Commission also deletes the 
cross reference to Sec.  64.1903(c) set forth in Sec.  64.1903(a).
    26. Part 69--Access Charges: The Commission deletes rules with 
effective dates which have passed or which are no longer relevant to 
the carriers to which they had applied: Sec.  69.116 which set forth a 
computation formula applicable to an access charge which was to fund 
the Universal Service Fund during the August 1, 1988 through December 
31, 1997 time period; Sec.  69.117 which set forth a computation 
formula applicable to an access charge which was to fund the Lifeline 
Assistance during the August 1, 1988 through December 31, 1997 time 
period; Sec.  69.126 which provided a time frame for specified 
nonrecurring charges by incumbent local exchange carriers which is no 
longer relevant; Sec.  69.127 which set forth a Transitional Equal 
Charge Rule which has been superceded by subsequent tariffs; and Sec.  
69.612 which defined the computation methods for the Long Term and 
Transitional Support payment obligations but has also expired.
    27. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis: According to the terms of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13, the modifications 
engendered by the rules changes do not contain new or modified 
information collections subject to Office of Management and Budget 
review.
    28. Final Regulatory Flexibility Certification: The Commission 
provides a Final Regulatory Flexibility Certification that the 
requirements of the Report and Order will not have a significant 
economic effect on a substantial number of small entities.
    29. Report to Congress: The Commission will send a copy of the 
Order, including its Final Regulatory Flexibility Certification, in a 
report to be sent to Congress and the Government Accountability Office 
pursuant to the Congressional Review Act. In addition, the Commission 
will send a copy of the Order including its Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration. A copy of this present summarized Order 
and Final Regulatory Flexibility Certification is also hereby published 
in the Federal Register.

[[Page 65745]]

Ordering Clauses

    30. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to sections 1, 3, 
4(i), 4(j), 201, 205, and 403, of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 153, 154, 201-205, and 403, the Report and 
Order is adopted.
    31. It is further ordered, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), 201, 
205, 303(r), and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 154(i)-(j), 201-205, 303(r), 403, and section 553 of Title 5, 
United States Code, that revisions to parts 36, 51, 52, 53, 54, 63, 64, 
and 69 of the Commission's rules are adopted.
    32. It is further ordered, that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this Report and Order, including the Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the 
Small Business Administration.
    33. It is further ordered, that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this Report and Order in a report to be sent to Congress and 
the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional 
Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).
    34. It is further ordered, that the provisions of the Report and 
Order will be effective December 11, 2006.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 36

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone, Uniform system of Accounts.

47 CFR Part 51

    Communications common carriers, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 52

    Communications common carriers, Telecommunications, Telephone.

47 CFR Part 53

    Communications common carriers, Telephone.

47 CFR Part 54

    Communications common carriers, Health facilities, Infants and 
Children, Libraries, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Telecommunications, Telephone.

47 CFR Part 63

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone, Telegraph.

47 CFR Part 64

    Telecommunications, Telephone.

47 CFR Part 69

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission amends 47 CFR parts 36, 51, 52, 53, 54, 63, 64 and 69 as 
follows:

PART 36--JURISDICTIONAL SEPARATIONS PROCEDURES; STANDARD PROCEDURES 
FOR SEPARATING TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROPERTY COSTS, REVENUES, 
EXPENSES, TAXES AND RESERVES FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 36 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i) and (j), 205, 221(c), 254, 403, 
and 410.

0
2. Amend Sec.  36.2 by revising paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (b)(3)(iv) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  36.2  Fundamental principles underlying procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (ii) Holding-time-minutes is the basis for measuring the use of 
local and toll switching plant.
* * * * *
    (iv) Message telecommunications subscriber plant shall be 
apportioned on the basis of a Gross Allocator which assigns 25 percent 
to the interstate jurisdiction and 75 percent to the state 
jurisdiction.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  36.125 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.125  Local switching equipment--Category 3.

* * * * *
    (f) Beginning January 1, 1998, for study areas with fewer than 
50,000 access lines, Category 3 investment is apportioned to the 
interstate jurisdiction by the application of an interstate allocation 
factor that is the lesser of either .85 or the sum of the interstate 
DEM factor specified in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, and the 
difference between the 1996 interstate DEM factor and the 1996 
interstate DEM factor multiplied by a weighting factor as determined by 
the table below. The Category 3 investment that is not assigned to the 
interstate jurisdiction pursuant to this paragraph is assigned to the 
state jurisdiction.

 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Weighting
       Number of access lines in service in study area           factor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-10,000.....................................................       3.0
10,001-20,000................................................       2.5
20,001-50,000................................................       2.0
50,001-or above..............................................       1.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
0
4. Amend Sec.  36.126 by revising paragraphs (e)(2), (e)(3) 
introductory text, (e)(3)(i) and (iii), and by removing and reserving 
paragraph (e)(3)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.126  Circuit equipment-Category 4.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) Interexchange Circuit Equipment Used for Wideband Service--
Category 4.22--This category includes the circuit equipment portion of 
interexchange channels used for wideband services. The cost of 
interexchange circuit equipment in this category is determined 
separately for each wideband channel and is segregated between message 
and private line services on the basis of the use of the channels 
provided. The respective costs are allocated to the appropriate 
operation in the same manner as the related interexchange cable and 
wire facilities described in Sec.  36.156.
    (3) All Other Interexchange Circuit Equipment--Category 4.23--This 
category includes the cost of all interexchange circuit equipment not 
assigned to Categories 4.21 and 4.22. The cost of interexchange basic 
circuit equipment used for the following classes of circuits is 
included in this category: Jointly used message circuits, i.e., message 
switching plant circuits carrying messages from the state and 
interstate operations; circuits used for state private line service; 
and circuits used for state private line services.
    (i) An average interexchange circuit equipment cost per equivalent 
interexchange telephone termination for all circuits is determined and 
applied to the equivalent interexchange telephone termination counts of 
each of the following classes of circuits: Private Line, State Private 
Line, Message. The cost of interstate private line circuits is assigned 
directly to the interstate operation. The cost of state private line 
circuits is assigned directly to the state operation. The cost of 
message circuits is apportioned between the state and

[[Page 65746]]

interstate operations on the basis of the relative number of study area 
conversation-minutes applicable to such facilities.
* * * * *
    (iii) The cost of special circuit equipment is segregated among 
telegraph grade private line services and other private line services 
based on an analysis of the use of the equipment and in accordance with 
Sec.  36.126(b)(4). The special circuit equipment cost assigned to 
telegraph grade and other private line services is directly assigned to 
the appropriate operations.
* * * * *

0
5. Amend Sec.  36.142 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.142  Categories and apportionment procedures.

    (a) Other Information Origination/Termination Equipment--Category 
1. This category includes the cost of other information origination/
termination equipment not assigned to Category 2. The costs of other 
information origination/termination equipment are allocated pursuant to 
the factor that is used to allocate subcategory 1.3 Exchange Line C&WF.
* * * * *

0
6. Amend Sec.  36.152 by revising paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  36.152  Categories of Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF).

    (a) * * *
    (1) Exchange Line C&WF Excluding Wideband--Category 1--This 
category includes C&W facilities between local central offices and 
subscriber premises used for message telephone, private line, local 
channels, and for circuits between control terminals and radio stations 
providing very high frequency maritime service or urban or highway 
mobile service.
    (2) Wideband and Exchange Trunk C&WF--Category 2--This category 
includes all wideband, including Exchange Line Wideband and C&WF 
between local central offices and Wideband facilities. It also includes 
C&WF between central offices or other switching points used by any 
common carrier for interlocal trunks wholly within an exchange or 
metropolitan service area, interlocal trunks with one or both terminals 
outside a metropolitan service area carrying some exchange traffic, 
toll connecting trunks, tandem trunks principally carrying exchange 
traffic, the exchange trunk portion of WATS access lines, the exchange 
trunk portion of private line local channels, and the exchange trunk 
portion of circuits between control terminals and radio stations 
providing very high frequency maritime service or urban or highway 
mobile service.
* * * * *

0
7. Amend Sec.  36.154 by revising paragraph (c) and by removing and 
reserving paragraphs (d), (e) and (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.154  Exchange Line Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)--Category 
1--apportionment procedures.

* * * * *
    (c) Effective January 1, 1986, 25 percent of the costs assigned to 
subcategory 1.3 shall be allocated to the interstate jurisdiction.
* * * * *

0
8. Amend Sec.  36.156 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.156  Interexchange Cable and Wire Facilities (C&WF)--Category 
3--apportionment procedures.

* * * * *
    (b) The cost of C&WF applicable to this category shall be directly 
assigned where feasible. If direct assignment is not feasible, cost 
shall be apportioned between the state and interstate jurisdiction on 
the basis of conversation-minute kilometers as applied to toll message 
circuits, etc.
* * * * *

0
9. Amend Sec.  36.212 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.212  Basic local services revenue--Account 5000.

* * * * *
    (c) Wideband Message Service revenues from monthly and 
miscellaneous charges, service connections, move and change charges, 
are apportioned between state and interstate operations on the basis of 
the relative number of minutes-of-use in the study area. Effective July 
1, 2001, through June 30, 2006, all study areas shall apportion 
Wideband Message Service revenues among the jurisdictions using the 
relative number of minutes of use for the twelve-month period ending 
December 31, 2000.
* * * * *

0
10. Amend Sec.  36.214 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.214  Long distance message revenue--Account 5100.

    (a) Wideband message service revenues from monthly and 
miscellaneous charges, service connections, move and change charges, 
are apportioned between state and interstate operations on the basis of 
the relative number of minutes-of-use in the study area. Effective July 
1, 2001 through June 30, 2006, all study areas shall apportion Wideband 
Message Service revenues among the jurisdictions using the relative 
number of minutes of use for the twelve-month period ending December 
31, 2000.
* * * * *


Sec.  36.375  [Amended].

0
11. Amend Sec.  36.375 by removing paragraph (b)(2) and redesignating 
paragraphs (b)(3) through (b)(6) as (b)(2) through (b)(5).
0
12. Amend Sec.  36.377 by removing and reserving paragraphs 
(a)(1)(viii), (a)(2)(vi), (a)(3)(v), and (a)(7) and by revising 
paragraphs (a)(1) introductory text, (a)(2) introductory text, 
(a)(2)(vii), (a)(3) introductory text , (a)(3)(vii), (a)(5)(i), 
(a)(5)(v), and (a)(5)(vi) to read as follows:


Sec.  36.377  Category 1--Local business office expense.

    (a) * * *
    (1) End-user service order processing includes expenses related to 
the receipt and processing of end users' orders for service and 
inquiries concerning service. This subcategory does not include any 
service order processing expenses for services provided to the 
interexchange carriers. End user service order processing expenses are 
first segregated into the following subcategories based on the relative 
number of actual contacts which are weighted, if appropriate, to 
reflect differences in the average work time per contact: Local service 
order processing; presubscription; directory advertising; State private 
line and special access; interstate private line and special access; 
other State message toll including WATS; other interstate message toll 
including WATS.
* * * * *
    (2) End user payment and collection includes expenses incurred in 
relation to the payment and collection of amounts billed to end users. 
It also includes commissions paid to payment agencies (which receive 
payment on customer accounts) and collection agencies. This category 
does not include any payment or collection expenses for services 
provided to interexchange carriers. End user payment and collection 
expenses are first segregated into the following subcategories based on 
relative total state and interstate billed revenues (excluding revenues 
billed to interexchange carriers and/or revenues deposited in coin 
boxes) for services for which end user payment and collection is 
provided: State private line and special access; interstate private 
line and special access; State

[[Page 65747]]

message toll including WATS; interstate message toll including WATS, 
and interstate subscriber line charge; local, including directory 
advertising.
* * * * *
    (vii) Effective July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2006, study areas 
subject to price cap regulation, pursuant to Sec.  61.41 of this 
chapter, shall assign the balance of Account 6620--Services to the 
subcategories, as specified in Sec. Sec.  36.377(a)(2)(i) through 
36.377(a)(2)(vi), based on the relative percentage assignment of the 
balance of Account 6620 to these categories/subcategories during the 
twelve month period ending December 31, 2000. All other subcategories 
of End User payment and collection expense, as specified in Sec. Sec.  
36.377(a)(2)(i) through 36.377(a)(2)(v), shall be directly assigned.
* * * * *
    (3) End user billing inquiry includes expenses related to handling 
end users' inquiries concerning their bills. This category does not 
include expenses related to the inquiries of interexchange carriers 
concerning their bills. End user billing inquiry costs are first 
segregated into the following subcategories based on the relative 
number of actual contracts, weighted if appropriate, to reflect 
differences in the average work time per contact: State private line 
and special access; interstate private line and special access; State 
message toll including WATS, interstate message toll including WATS, 
interstate subscriber line charge; and other.
* * * * *
    (vii) Effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2006 study areas 
subject to price cap regulation, pursuant to Sec.  61.41 of this 
chapter, shall assign the balance of Account 6620--Services to the 
subcategories, as specified in Sec. Sec.  36.377(a)(3)(i) through 
36.377(a)(3)(vi), based on the relative percentage assignment of the 
balance of Account 6620 to these subcategories during the twelve month 
period ending December 31, 2000. All other subcategories of End user 
billing inquiry expense, as specified in Sec. Sec.  36.377(a)(3)(i) 
through 36.377(a)(3)(vi), shall be directly assigned.
* * * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) State special access and private line payment and collection 
expense is directly assigned to the State jurisdiction.
* * * * *
    (v) State billing and collection payment and collection expense is 
directly assigned to the State jurisdiction.
    (vi) Interstate billing and collection payment and collection 
expense is directly assigned to the interstate jurisdiction.
* * * * *

0
13. Amend Sec.  36.631 by removing and reserving paragraphs (a) and (b) 
and by revising paragraph (d) introductory text to read as follows:


Sec.  36.631  Expense adjustment.

* * * * *
    (d) Beginning January 1, 1998, for study areas reporting more than 
200,000 working loops pursuant to Sec.  36.611(h), the expense 
adjustment (additional interstate expense allocation) is equal to the 
sum of paragraphs (d)(1) through (4) of this section. After January 1, 
2000, the expense adjustment (additional interstate expense allocation) 
for non-rural telephone companies serving study areas reporting more 
than 200,000 working loops pursuant to Sec.  36.611(h) shall be 
calculated pursuant to Sec.  54.309 of this chapter or Sec.  54.311 of 
this chapter (which relies on this part), whichever is applicable.
* * * * *


Sec.  36.641  [Removed].

0
14. Remove Sec.  36.641.
0
15. Revise Appendix to Part 36--Glossary to read as follows:

Appendix to Part 36--Glossary

    The descriptions of terms in this glossary are broad and have 
been prepared to assist in understanding the use of such terms in 
the separation procedures. Terms which are defined in the text of 
this part are not included in this glossary.

Access Line

    A communications facility extending from a customer's premises 
to a serving central office comprising a subscriber line and, if 
necessary, a trunk facility, e.g., a WATS access line.

Book Cost

    The cost of property as recorded on the books of a company.

Cable Fill Factor

    The ratio of cable conductor or cable pair kilometers in use to 
total cable conductor or cable pair kilometers available in the 
plant, e.g., the ratio of revenue producing cable pair kilometers in 
use to total cable pair kilometers in plant.

Category

    A grouping of items of property or expense to facilitate the 
apportionment of their costs among the operations and to which, 
ordinarily, a common measure of use is applicable.

Central Office

    A switching unit, in a telephone system which provides service 
to the general public, having the necessary equipment and operations 
arrangements for terminating and interconnecting subscriber lines 
and trunks or trunks only. There may be more than one central office 
in a building.

Channel

    An electrical path suitable for the transmission of 
communications between two or more points, ordinarily between two or 
more stations or between channel terminations in Telecommunication 
Company central offices. A channel may be furnished by wire, 
fiberoptics, radio or a combination thereof.

Circuit

    A fully operative communications path established in the normal 
circuit layout and currently used for message, WATS access, or 
private line services.

Circuit Kilometers

    The route kilometers or revenue producing circuits in service, 
determined by measuring the length in terms of kilometers, of the 
actual path followed by the transmission medium.

Common Channel Network Signaling

    Channels between switching offices used to transmit signaling 
information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or 
transmission channels.

Complement (of cable)

    A group of conductors of the same general type (e.g., quadded, 
paired) within a single cable sheath.

Complex

    All groups of operator positions, wherever located, associated 
with the same call distribution and/or stored program control unit.

Concentration Equipment

    Central office equipment whose function is to concentrate 
traffic from subscriber lines onto a lesser number of circuits 
between the remotely located concentration equipment and the serving 
central office concentration equipment. This concentration equipment 
is connected to the serving central office line equipment.

Connection--Minute

    The product of (a) the number of messages and, (b) the average 
minutes of connection per message.

Conversation--Minute

    The product of (a) the number of messages and, (b) the average 
minutes of conversation per message.

Conversation--Minute--Kilometers

    The product of (a) the number of messages, (b) the average 
minutes of conversation per message and (c) the average route 
kilometers of circuits involved.

[[Page 65748]]

Cost

    The cost of property owned by the Telephone Company whose 
property is to be apportioned among the operations. This term 
applies either to property costs recorded on the books of the 
company or property costs determined by other evaluation methods.

Current Billing

    The combined amount of charges billed, excluding arrears.

Customer Dialed Charge Traffic

    Traffic which is both (a) handled to completion through pulses 
generated by the customer and (b) for which either a message unit 
change, bulk charge or message toll charge is except for that 
traffic recorded by means of message registers.

Customer Premises Equipment

    Items of telecommunications terminal equipment in Accounts 2310 
referred to as CPE in Sec.  64.702 of the Federal Communication 
Commission's Rules adopted in the Second Computer Inquiry such as 
telephone instruments, data sets, dialers and other supplemental 
equipment, and PBX's which are provided by common carriers and 
located on customer premises and inventory included in these 
accounts to be used for such purposes. Excluded from this 
classification are similar items of equipment located on telephone 
company premises and used by the company in the normal course of 
business as well as over voltage protection equipment, customer 
premises wiring, coin operated public or pay telephones, 
multiplexing equipment to deliver multiple channels to the customer, 
mobile radio equipment and transmit earth stations.

Customer Premises Wire

    The segment of wiring from the customer's side of the protector 
to the customer premises equipment.

DSA Board

    A local dial office switchboard at which are handled assistance 
calls, intercepted calls and calls from miscellaneous lines and 
trunks. It may also be employed for handling certain toll calls.

DSB Board

    A switchboard of a dial system for completing incoming calls 
received from manual offices.

Data Processing Equipment

    Office equipment such as that using punched cards, punched tape, 
magnetic or other comparable storage media as an operating vehicle 
for recording and processing information. Includes machines for 
transcribing raw data into punched cards, etc., but does not include 
such items as key-operated, manually or electrically driven adding, 
calculating, bookkeeping or billing machines, typewriters or similar 
equipment.

Dial Switching Equipment

    Switching equipment actuated by electrical impulses generated by 
a dial or key pulsing arrangement.

Equal Access Costs

    Include only initial incremental presubscription costs and 
initial incremental expenditures for hardware and software related 
directly to the provision of equal access which would not be 
required to upgrade the switching capabilities of the office 
involved absent the provisions of equal access.

Equivalent Gauge

    A standard cross section of cable conductors for use in equating 
the metallic content of cable conductors of all gauge to a common 
base.

Equivalent Kilometers of 104 Wire

    The basic units employed in the allocation of pole lines costs 
for determining the relative use made of poles by aerial cables and 
by aerial wire conductors of various sizes. This unit reflects the 
relative loads of such cable and wire carried on poles.

Equivalent Pair Kilometers

    The product of sheath Kilometers and the number of equivalent 
gauge pairs of conductors in a cable.

Equivalent Sheath Kilometers

    The product of (a) the length of a section of cable in 
kilometers (sheath kilometers) and (b) the ratio of the metallic 
content applicable to a particular group of conductors in the cable 
(e.g., conductors assigned to a category) to the metallic content of 
all conductors in the cable.

Exchange Transmission Plant

    This is a combination of (a) exchange cable and wire facilities 
(b) exchange central office circuit equipment, including associated 
land and buildings and (c) information origination/termination 
equipment which forms a complete channel.

Holding Time

    The time in which an item of telephone plant is in actual use 
either by a customer or an operator. For example, on a completed 
telephone call, holding time includes conversation time as well as 
other time in use. At local dial offices any measured minutes which 
result from other than customer attempts to place calls (as 
evidenced by the dialing of at least one digit) are not treated as 
holding time.

Host Central Office

    An electronic analog or digital base switching unit containing 
the central call processing functions which service the host office 
and its remote locations.

Information Origination/Termination Equipment

    Equipment used to input into or receive output from the 
telecommunications network.

Interexchange Channel

    A circuit which is included in the interexchange transmission 
equipment.

Interexchange Transmission Equipment

    The combination of (a) interexchange cable and wire facilities, 
(b) interexchange circuit equipment and, (c) associated land and 
buildings.

Interlocal Trunk

    A circuit between two local central office units, either manual 
or dial. Interlocal trunks may be used for either exchange or toll 
traffic or both.

Intertoll Circuits

    Circuits between toll centers and circuits between a toll center 
and a tandem system in a different toll center area.

Local Channel

    The portion of a private line circuit which is included in the 
exchange transmission plant. However, common usage of this term 
usually excludes information origination/termination equipment.

Local Office

    A central office serving primarily as a place of termination for 
subscriber lines and for providing telephone service to the 
subscribers on these lines.

Loop

    A pair of wires, or its equivalent, between a customer's station 
and the central office from which the station is served.

Message

    A completed call, i.e., a communication in which a conversation 
or exchange of information took place between the calling and called 
parties.

Message Service or Message Toll Service

    Switched service furnished to the general public (as 
distinguished from private line service). Except as otherwise 
provided, this includes exchange switched services and all switched 
services provided by interexchange carriers and completed by a local 
telephone company's access services, e.g., MTS, WATS, Execunet, 
open-end FX and CCSA/ONALs.

Message Units

    Unit of measurement used for charging for measured message 
telephone exchange traffic within a specified area.

Metropolitan Service Area

    The area around and including a relatively large city and in 
which substantially all of the message telephone traffic between the 
city and the suburban points within the area is classified as 
exchange in one or both directions.

Minutes-of-Use

    A unit of measurement expressed as either holding time or 
conversation time.

Minutes-of-Use-Kilometers

    The product of (a) the number of minutes-of-use and (b) the 
average route kilometers of circuits involved.

Multi-Center Exchange

    An exchange area in which are located two or more local central 
office buildings or wire centers.

Operations

    The term denoting the general classifications of services 
rendered to the

[[Page 65749]]

public for which separate tariffs are filed, namely exchange, state 
toll and interstate toll.

Operator Trunks

    A general term, ordinarily applied to trunks between manually 
operated switchboard positions and local dial central offices in the 
same wire center.

Private Line Service

    A service for communications between specified locations for a 
continuous period or for regularly recurring periods at stated 
hours.

Remote Access Line

    An access line (e.g., for WATS service) between a subscriber's 
premises in one toll rate center and a serving central office 
located in a different toll rate center.

Remote Line Location

    A remotely located subscriber line access unit which is normally 
dependent upon the central processor of the host office for call 
processing functions.

Remote Trunk Arrangement (RTA)

    Arrangement that permits the extension of TSPS functions to 
remote locations.

Reservation

    That amount or quantity of property kept or set apart for a 
specific use.

Reserved

    Kept or set apart for a specific use.

Separations

    The process by which telecommunication property costs, revenues, 
expenses, taxes and reserves are apportioned among the operations.

Service Observing Unit

    A unit of work measurement which is used as the common 
denominator to express the relative time required for handling the 
various work functions at service observing boards.

Sheath Kilometers

    The actual length of cable in route kilometers.

Special Services

    All services other than message telephones, e.g., private line 
services.

Station-to-Station Basis

    The term applied to the basis of toll rate making which 
contemplates that the message toll service charge (telephone) covers 
the use made of all facilities between the originating station and 
the terminating station, including the stations, and the services 
rendered in connection therewith.

Study Area

    Study area boundaries shall be frozen as they are on November 
15, 1984.

Subscriber Line or Exchange Line

    A communication channel between a telephone station or PBX 
station and the central office which serves it.

Subtributary Office

    A class of tributary office which does not have direct access to 
its toll center, but which is connected to its toll center office by 
means of circuits which are switched through to the toll center at 
another tributary office.

Tandem Area

    The general areas served by the local offices having direct 
trunks to or from the tandem office. This area may consist of one or 
more communities or may include only a portion of a relatively large 
city.

Tandem Circuit or Trunk

    A general classification of circuits or trunks between a tandem 
central office unit and any other central office or switchboard.

Tandem Connection

    A call switched at a tandem office.

Tandem Office

    A central office unit used primarily as an intermediate 
switching point for traffic between local central offices within the 
tandem area. Where qualified by a modifying expression, or other 
explanation, this term may be applied to an office employed for both 
the interconnection of local central offices within the tandem area 
and for the interconnection of these local offices with other 
central offices, e.g., long haul tandem office.

Toll Center

    An office (or group of offices) within a city which generally 
handles the originating and incoming toll traffic for that city to 
or from other toll center areas and which handles through switched 
traffic. The toll center normally handles the inward toll traffic 
for its tributary exchanges and, in general, either handles the 
outward traffic originating at its tributaries or serves as the 
outlet to interexchange circuits for outward traffic ticketed and 
timed at its tributaries. Toll centers are listed as such in the 
Toll Rate and Route Guide.

Toll Center Area

    The areas served by a toll center, including the toll center 
city and the communities served by tributaries of the toll center.

Toll Center Toll Office

    A toll office (as contrasted to a local office) in a toll center 
city.

Toll Circuit

    A general term applied to interexchange trunks used primarily 
for toll traffic.

Toll Connecting Trunk

    A general classification of trunks carrying toll traffic and 
ordinarily extending between a local office and a toll office, 
except trunks classified as tributary circuits. Examples of toll 
connecting trunks include toll switching trunks, recording trunks 
and recording-completing trunks.

Toll Office

    A central office used primarily for supervising and switching 
toll traffic.

Traffic Over First Routes

    A term applied to the routing of traffic and denoting routing 
via principal route for traffic between any two points as 
distinguished from alternate routes for such traffic.

Operator System

    A stored program electronic system associated with one or more 
toll switching systems which provides centralized traffic service 
position functions for several local offices at one location.

Tributary Circuit

    A circuit between a tributary office and a toll switchboard or 
intertoll dialing equipment in a toll center city.

Tributary Office

    A local office which is located outside the exchange in which a 
toll center is located, which has a different rate center from its 
toll center and which usually tickets and times only a part of its 
originating toll traffic, but which may ticket or time all or none, 
of such traffic. The toll center handles all outward traffic not 
ticketed and timed at the tributary and normally switches all inward 
toll traffic from outside the tributary's toll center to the 
tributary. Tributary offices are indicated as such in the Toll Rate 
and Route Guide.

Trunks

    Circuit between switchboards or other switching equipment, as 
distinguished from circuits which extend between central office 
switching equipment and information origination/termination 
equipment.

TSPS Complex

    All groups of operator positions, wherever located, associated 
with the same TSPS stored program control units.

Weighted Standard Work Second

    A measurement of traffic operating work which is used to express 
the relative time required to handle the various kinds of calls or 
work functions, and which is weighted to reflect appropriate degrees 
of waiting to serve time.

Wide Area Telephone Service WATS

    A toll service offering for customer dial type 
telecommunications between a given customer station and stations 
within specified geographic rate areas employing a single access 
line between the customer location and the serving central office. 
Each access line may be arranged for either outward (OUT-WATS) or 
inward (IN-WATS) service or both.

Wideband Channel

    A communication channel of a bandwidth equivalent to twelve or 
more voice grade channels.

Working Loop

    A revenue producing pair of wires, or its equivalent, between a 
customer's station and the central office from which the station is 
served.

[[Page 65750]]

PART 51--INTERCONNECTION

0
16. The authority citation for part 51 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 1-5, 7, 201-05, 207-09, 218, 225-27, 251-54, 
256, 271, 303(r), 332, 48 Stat. 1070, as amended, 1077; 47 U.S.C. 
151-55, 157, 201-05, 207-09, 218, 225-27, 251-54, 256, 271, 303(r), 
332, 47 U.S.C. 157 note, unless otherwise noted.


Sec.  51.211  [Removed].

0
17. Remove Sec.  51.211.


Sec.  51.213  [Amended].

0
18. Amend Sec.  51.213 by removing paragraphs (c) and (d).


Sec.  51.329  [Amended].

0
19. Amend Sec.  51.329 by removing paragraph (c)(3).


Sec.  51.515  [Amended].

0
20. Amend Sec.  51.515 by removing and reserving paragraphs (a) and 
(b).

PART 52--NUMBERING

0
21. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

     Authority: Sec. 1, 2, 4, 5, 48 Stat. 1066, as amended; 47 
U.S.C. 151, 152, 154, 155 unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 
secs. 3, 4, 201-05, 207-09, 218, 225-7, 251-2, 271 and 332, 48 Stat. 
1070, as amended, 1077; 47 U.S.C. 153, 154, 201-05, 207-09, 218, 
225-7, 251-2, 271 and 332 unless otherwise noted.


0
22. Amend Sec.  52.5 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  52.5  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (c) North American Numbering Plan (NANP). The ``North American 
Numbering Plan'' is the basic numbering scheme for the 
telecommunications networks located in American Samoa, Anguilla, 
Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, 
Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, 
Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Turks & Caicos 
Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States (including Puerto 
Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands).
* * * * *


Sec.  52.11  [Amended].

0
23. Amend Sec.  52.11 by removing and reserving paragraph (d).

0
24. Amend Sec.  52.13 by revising paragraphs (b) introductory text, 
(b)(3) and (c)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  52.13  North American Numbering Plan Administrator.

* * * * *
    (b) The NANPA shall administer the numbering resources identified 
in paragraph (d) of this section. It shall assign and administer NANP 
resources in an efficient, effective, fair, unbiased, and non-
discriminatory manner consistent with industry-developed guidelines and 
Commission regulations. It shall support the Commission's efforts to 
accommodate current and future numbering needs. It shall perform 
additional functions, including but not limited to:
* * * * *
    (3) Complying with guidelines of the North American Industry 
Numbering Committee (INC) or its successor, related industry 
documentation, Commission regulations and orders, and the guidelines of 
other appropriate policy-making authorities;
* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) Manage projects such as Numbering Plan Area (NPA) relief (area 
code relief) planning, Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast 
(NRUF) data collection, and NPA and NANP exhaust projection;
* * * * *

0
25. Amend Sec.  52.15 by removing and reserving paragraphs (c) and (e) 
and by revising paragraphs (b)(3) and (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  52.15  Central office code administration.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) Conducting the Numbering Resource Utilization and Forecast 
(NRUF) data collection;
* * * * *
    (d) Central Office (CO) Code Administration functional 
requirements. The NANPA shall manage the United States CO code 
numbering resource, including CO code request processing, NPA code 
relief and jeopardy planning, and industry notification functions. The 
NANPA shall perform its CO Code administration functions in accordance 
with the published industry numbering resource administration 
guidelines and Commission orders and regulations of 47 CFR chapter I.
* * * * *


Sec.  52.27  [Removed].

0
26. Remove Sec.  52.27.


Sec.  52.29  [Removed].

0
27. Remove Sec.  52.29.


Sec.  52.31  [Amended].

0
28. Amend Sec.  52.31 by removing and reserving paragraph (c).

PART 53--SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING BELL OPERATING COMPANIES

0
29. The authority citation for part 53 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 1-5, 7, 201-05, 218, 251, 253, 271-75, 48 
Stat. 1070, as amended, 1077; 47 U.S.C. 151-55, 157, 201-05, 218, 
251, 253, 271-75, unless otherwise noted.


Sec.  53.101  [Removed].

0
30. Remove Sec.  53.101.

PART 54--UNIVERSAL SERVICE

0
31. 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.  54.201  [Amended].

0
32. Amend Sec.  54.201 by removing and reserving paragraph (a)(2).


Sec.  54.313  [Amended].

0
33. Amend Sec.  54.313 by removing and reserving paragraphs (d)(1) and 
(d)(2).
0
34. Amend Sec.  54.507 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  54.507  Cap.

* * * * *
    (b) A funding year for purposes of the schools and libraries cap 
shall be the period July 1 through June 30.
* * * * *

0
35. Amend Sec.  54.604 by revising paragraph (a)(1), removing and 
reserving (a)(2), and removing paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  54.604  Existing contracts.

    (a) * * *
    (1) A contract signed on or before July 10, 1997 is exempt from the 
competitive bid requirement for the life of the contract.
* * * * *

0
36. Amend Sec.  54.623 by removing and reserving paragraphs (c)(2) and 
(c)(3) and by revising paragraph (c)(4) to read as follows:


Sec.  54.623  Cap.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (4) The Administrator shall implement a filing period that treats 
all rural health care providers filing within the period as if their 
applications were simultaneously received.
* * * * *

[[Page 65751]]

PART 63--EXTENSION OF LINES, NEW LINES, AND DISCONTINUANCE, 
REDUCTION, OUTAGE AND IMPAIRMENT OF SERVICE BY COMMON CARRIERS; AND 
GRANTS OF RECOGNIZED PRIVATE OPERATING AGENCY STATUS

0
37. The authority citation for part 63 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 10, 11, 201-205, 214, 218, 
403 and 651 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
151, 154(i), 154(j), 160, 201-205, 214, 218, 403, and 571, unless 
otherwise noted.


0
38. Revise Sec.  63.61 to read as follows:


Sec.  63.61  Applicability.

    Any carrier subject to the provisions of section 214 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, proposing to discontinue, 
reduce or impair interstate or foreign telephone or telegraph service 
to a community, or a part of a community, shall request authority 
therefor by formal application or informal request as specified in the 
pertinent sections of this part:
    (a) Provided, however, that where service is expanded on an 
experimental basis for a temporary period of not more than 6 months, no 
application shall be required to reduce service to its status prior to 
such expansion but a written notice shall be filed with the Commission 
within 10 days of the reduction showing:
    (1) The date on which, places at which, and extent to which service 
was expanded; and,
    (2) The date on which, places at which, and extent to which such 
expansion of service was discontinued.
    (b) And provided further that a licensee of a radio station who has 
filed an application for authority to discontinue service provided by 
such station shall during the period that such application is pending 
before the Commission, continue to file appropriate applications as may 
be necessary for extension or renewal of station license in order to 
provide legal authorization for such station to continue in operation 
pending final action on the application for discontinuance of service. 
Procedures for discontinuance, reduction or impairment of service by 
dominant and non-dominant, domestic carriers are in Sec.  63.71. 
Procedures for discontinuance, reduction or impairment of international 
services are in Sec.  63.19.

0
39. Amend Sec.  63.71 by revising paragraphs (a)(5)(i), (a)(5)(ii) and 
add new paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec.  63.71  Procedures for discontinuance, reduction or impairment of 
service for domestic carriers.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (i) If the carrier is non-dominant with respect to the service 
being discontinued, reduced or impaired, the notice shall state: The 
FCC will normally authorize this proposed discontinuance of service (or 
reduction or impairment) unless it is shown that customers would be 
unable to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another 
carrier or that the public convenience and necessity is otherwise 
adversely affected. If you wish to object, you should file your 
comments as soon as possible, but no later than 15 days after the 
Commission releases public notice of the proposed discontinuance. 
Address them to the Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Competition Policy Division, Washington, DC 20054, 
and include in your comments a reference to the Sec.  63.71 Application 
of (carrier's name). Comments should include specific information about 
the impact of this proposed discontinuance (or reduction or impairment) 
upon you or your company, including any inability to acquire reasonable 
substitute service.
    (ii) If the carrier is dominant with respect to the service being 
discontinued, reduced or impaired, the notice shall state: The FCC will 
normally authorize this proposed discontinuance of service (or 
reduction or impairment) unless it is shown that customers would be 
unable to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another 
carrier or that the public convenience and necessity is otherwise 
adversely affected. If you wish to object, you should file your 
comments as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the 
Commission releases public notice of the proposed discontinuance. 
Address them to the Federal Communications Commission, Wireline 
Competition Bureau, Competition Policy Division, Washington, DC 20054, 
and include in your comments a reference to the Sec.  63.71 Application 
of (carrier's name). Comments should include specific information about 
the impact of this proposed discontinuance (or reduction or impairment) 
upon you or your company, including any inability to acquire reasonable 
substitute service.
* * * * *
    (d) Procedures for discontinuance, reduction or impairment of 
international services are in Sec.  63.19.

PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS

0
40. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:

     Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 254(k); secs. 403(b)(2)(B),(c), Pub. 
L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218, 
222, 225, 226, 228, and 254 (k) unless otherwise noted.


0
41. Amend Sec.  64.1330 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  64.1330  State review of payphone entry and exit regulations and 
public interest payphones.

* * * * *
    (c) Each state must review its rules and policies to determine 
whether it has provided for public interest payphones consistent with 
applicable Commission guidelines, evaluate whether it needs to take 
measures to ensure that such payphones will continue to exist in light 
of the Commission's implementation of Section 276 of the Communications 
Act, and administer and fund such programs so that such payphones are 
supported fairly and equitably.

0
42. Amend Sec.  64.1903 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text and 
by removing paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  64.1903  Obligations of all incumbent independent local exchange 
carriers.

    (a) An incumbent independent LEC providing in-region, interstate, 
interexchange services or in-region international interexchange 
services shall provide such services through an affiliate that 
satisfies the following requirements:
* * * * *

PART 69--ACCESS CHARGES

0
43. The authority citation for part 69 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 201, 202, 203, 205, 218, 220, 254, 
403.


Sec. Sec.  69.116 and 69.117  [Removed].

0
44. Remove Sec. Sec.  69.116 and 69.117.


Sec. Sec.  69.126 and 69.127  [Removed].

0
45. Remove Sec. Sec.  69.126 and 69.127.


Sec.  69.612  [Removed].

0
46. Remove Sec.  69.612.

 [FR Doc. E6-18842 Filed 11-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P