[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 206 (Thursday, October 23, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63127-63128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25058]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Chapter I
[DA 08-2278; RM No. 11497]
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition for
Rulemaking Regarding Exclusivity Arrangements Between Commercial
Wireless Carriers and Handset Manufacturers
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: In this document, comment is sought on a May 20, 2008 petition
for rulemaking (Petition) filed by Rural Cellular Association (RCA)
(Petitioner). The Petitioner asks the Federal Communications Commission
to initiate a rulemaking to investigate the widespread use and
anticompetitive effects of exclusivity arrangements between commercial
wireless carriers and handset manufacturers, and, as necessary, adopt
rules that prohibit such arrangements when contrary to the public
interest.
DATES: Interested parties may file comments on or before December 2,
2008, and reply comments on or before December 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RM No. 11497, by any
of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: 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.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica DeLong, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-1337 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's public
notice released on October 10, 2008. The full text of the public notice
is available for public inspection and copying during business hours in
the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW.,
Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. It also may be purchased from the
Commission's duplicating contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street,
SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554; the contractor's Web site,
http://www.bcpiweb.com; or by calling (800) 378-3160, facsimile (202)
488-5563, or e-mail [email protected]. Copies of the public notice also
may be obtained via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS) by entering the docket number, RM No. 11497. Additionally, the
complete item is available on the Federal Communications Commission's
Web site at http://www.fcc.gov.
On May 20, 2008, RCA filed a petition for rulemaking.\1\ ``Pursuant
to Sections 1, 4(i), 201(b), 202(a), 303(r), and 307(b) of the
Communications Act, and Section 1.401 of the Commission's rules,'' \2\
the Petitioner asks the Commission to ``initiate a rulemaking to
investigate the widespread use and anticompetitive effects of
exclusivity arrangements between commercial wireless carriers and
handset manufacturers, and, as necessary, adopt rules that prohibit
such arrangements when contrary to the public interest.'' \3\ The
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau seeks comment on the Petition.
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\1\ In the Matter of Rural Cellular Association Petition for
Rulemaking Regarding Exclusivity Arrangements Between Commercial
Wireless Carriers and Handset Manufacturers, filed May, 20, 2008
(Petition).
\2\ Petition at 1, citing 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 201(b), 202(a),
303(r), and 307(b); 47 CFR 1.401.
\3\ Id.
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Procedural Matters
Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply
comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this
document. 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).
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. Filers
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting
comments.
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.
[[Page 63128]]
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.
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.
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 Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC 20554.
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).
Parties shall send one copy of their comments and reply comments to
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room
CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (800) 378-3160, e-mail [email protected].
Parties should also send a copy of their filings to Monica DeLong,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission,
Room 6530, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or by e-mail to
[email protected]. Comments filed in response to this public notice
will be available for public inspection and copying during business
hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th
Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, and via the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the
docket number, RM No. 11497. The comments may also be purchased from
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (202)
488-5563, or e-mail [email protected].
Federal Communications Commission.
James D. Schlichting,
Acting Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. E8-25058 Filed 10-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P