[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40816-40818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14105]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36 and 54

[WC Docket No. 03-109; DA 07-1241]


Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks To Refresh the Record on 
Lifeline and Link-Up

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule, comments requested.

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SUMMARY: By this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) 
seeks to refresh the record on issues raised in the Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, 69 FR 34629, June 22, 2004, in the Lifeline and 
Link-Up docket. In that docket, the Commission sought comment on 
whether the income-based criterion in the federal default eligibility 
criteria should be increased to 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines 
(FPG) to make phone service affordable to more low-income individuals 
and families. The Commission also sought to explore whether adoption of 
rules governing the advertisement of the Lifeline/Link-Up program, as 
opposed to guidelines, would strengthen the operation of these 
programs.

DATES: Comments are due on or before August 24, 2007. Reply comments 
are due on or before September 10, 2007.

ADDRESSES: All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of

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the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC. Comments may be submitted, identified by WC Docket No. 
03-109, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Agency Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the Electronic Comment Filing 
System (ECFS) http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
     E-mail: To [email protected]. Include WC Docket 
No. 03-109 in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: To the attention of Dana Walton-Bradford at 202-418-
1932. Include WC Docket No. 03-109 on the cover page.
     Mail: All filings must be addressed to the Commission's 
Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. 
Parties should send a copy of their filings to Dana Walton-Bradford, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission, Room 5-A321, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.
     Public inspection, purchase, or download: The full text of 
the document summarized here is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 
225 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20504. The complete 
text of this document also may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room, 
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, and may also be downloaded at: http://www.fcc.gov.
    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). Instructions: All submissions received must include the 
agency name and docket number. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, including any personal 
information provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments 
and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Comment 
Filing Procedures'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Spade, Wireline Competition 
Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 418-7400, or 
Dana Walton-Bradford, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications 
Access Policy Division, (202) 418-7400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice in WC Docket No. 03-109, released March 12, 2007 (DA 07-1241). 
The full text of this document is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 
445 12th St. SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text 
of this document also may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room, 
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: 
http://www.fcc.gov. By this document, the Bureau seeks to refresh the 
record on issues in the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in the 
Lifeline and Link-Up docket, WC Docket No. 03-109. Currently, federal 
default criteria specify that a consumer is eligible for Lifeline or 
Link-Up support when the consumer's income is at or below 135% of the 
Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), or if the consumer participates in 
one of several federal assistance programs, such as Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or the National School Lunch's 
free lunch program (NSL). In the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
issued on April 24, 2004, the Commission sought comment on whether the 
income-based criterion in the federal default eligibility criteria 
should be increased to 150% of the FPG to make phone service affordable 
to more low-income individuals and families. The Commission also sought 
to explore whether adoption of rules governing the advertisement of the 
Lifeline/Link-Up program, as opposed to guidelines, would strengthen 
the operation of these programs. For example, should an Eligible 
Telecommunications Carrier (ETC) be required to distribute materials in 
a second language if a certain percentage of the population in a given 
area speaks a language other than English, and if so, what percentage 
would trigger the requirement? The Commission now seeks to refresh the 
record on these and all other issues raised in the Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking. The Bureau requests that parties refresh the 
record with any new information or arguments they believe to be 
relevant to deciding the issues still pending. The refreshed record 
will enable the Commission to undertake appropriate consideration of 
the issue of how best to provide support through the Lifeline and Link-
Up programs to more low-income individuals and families.

Comment Filing Procedures

    2. 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 are 
due on or before August 24, 2007 and reply comments are due on or 
before September 10, 2007. Comments may be filed using the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. 
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via 
the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy 
of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or 
rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of the proceeding, 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, in this case, WC Docket No. 03-109. 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 response. 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.
    3. Paper 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). Parties are strongly encouraged to 
file comments electronically using the Commission's ECFS.
    4. 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. Commercial overnight mail 
(other than U.S. Postal

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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.
    5. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Parties should 
also send a copy of their filings to Dana Walton-Bradford, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission, Room 5-A321, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, or by e-mail to [email protected]. 
Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission's copy 
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via 
e-mail to [email protected].
    6. Documents in WC Docket No. 03-109 will be available for public 
inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. The documents may also be purchased from BCPI, 
telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, 
e-mail [email protected].
    7. 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).
    8. This matter shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance 
of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects 
discussed. More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views 
and arguments presented generally is required. Other requirements 
pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 
1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kirk S. Burgee,
Chief of Staff, Wireline Competition Bureau.
 [FR Doc. E7-14105 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P