[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17624-17625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06655]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-311]


Wireline Competition Bureau Adds New Discussion Topic To Connect 
America Cost Model Virtual Workshop

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau adds a new 
virtual workshop discussion topic, entitled ``Rate of Return for 
Connect America Cost Model,'' to seek public input on what cost of 
money should be utilized in the forward-looking cost model that will 
determine support levels that will be offered to price cap carriers in 
Phase II.

DATES: Comments are due on or before April 1, 2013.
    If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it 
difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket No. 10-90, 
by any of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    [ssquf] Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
    [ssquf] Virtual Workshop: In addition to the usual methods for 
filing electronic comments, the Commission is allowing comments, reply 
comments, and ex parte comments in this proceeding to be filed by 
posting comments at http://www.fcc.gov/blog/wcb-cost-model-virtual-workshop-2012.
    [ssquf] People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: [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: Katie King, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7491 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Wireline 
Competition Bureau's Public Notice in WC Docket No. 10-90; DA 13-311 
released February 28, 2013, as well as information posted online in the 
Wireline Competition Bureau's Virtual Workshop. The complete text of 
the Public Notice is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. These documents 
may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, 
Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, 
Washington, DC 20554, telephone (800) 378-3160 or (202) 863-2893, 
facsimile (202) 863-2898, or via the Internet at http://www.bcpiweb.com. In addition, the Virtual Workshop may be accessed via 
the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/blog/wcb-cost-model-virtual-workshop-2012.
    1. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, the Wireline Competition Bureau 
(Bureau) announced the commencement of a virtual workshop to solicit 
input and facilitate discussion on topics related to the development 
and adoption of the forward-looking cost model for Connect America 
Phase II. To date, the Bureau has sought comment on 21 different topics 
in the virtual workshop.
    2. Today, the Bureau adds a new virtual workshop discussion topic, 
entitled ``Rate of Return for Connect America Cost Model,'' to seek 
public input on what cost of money should be utilized in the forward-
looking cost model that will determine support levels that will be 
offered to price cap carriers in Phase II. Responses should be 
submitted in the virtual workshop no later than April 1, 2013.
    3. The Bureau may continue to add discussion topics or follow-up 
questions, which will be announced by Public Notice. Parties can 
participate in the virtual workshop by visiting the Connect America 
Fund Web page, http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/connecting-america, and 
following the link to the virtual workshop.
    4. Comments from the virtual workshop will be included in the 
official public record of this proceeding. The Bureau will not rely on 
anonymous comments posted during the workshop in reaching decisions 
regarding the model. Participants should be aware that identifying 
information from parties that post material in the virtual workshop 
will be publicly available for inspection upon request, even though 
such information may not be posted in the workshop forums.

I. Procedural Matters

A. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    5. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as 
amended (RFA), the Bureau prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (IRFA), included as part of the Model Design PN, 77 FR 38804, 
June 29, 2012, of the possible significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities by the policies and rules proposed 
in these Public Notices and the information posted online in the 
Virtual Workshops. We have reviewed the IRFA and have determined that 
is does not need to be supplemented.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

    6. This document does not contain proposed information 
collection(s) subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain 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).

 C. Filing Requirements

    7. Comments and Replies. Pursuant to sections 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 the 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic 
Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 
1998.
    [ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
    [ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file 
an original and one copy 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. All

[[Page 17625]]

filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [ssquf] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 
12th Street SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
    [ssquf] 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.
    [ssquf] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    8. Virtual Workshop. In addition to the usual methods for filing 
electronic comments, the Commission is allowing comments in this 
proceeding to be filed by posting comments at http://www.fcc.gov/blog/wcb-cost-model-virtual-workshop-2012. Persons wishing to examine the 
record in this proceeding are encouraged to examine the record on ECFS 
and the Virtual Workshop. Although Virtual Workshop commenters may 
choose to provide identifying information or may comment anonymously, 
anonymous comments will not be part of the record in this proceeding 
and accordingly will not be relied on by the Commission in reaching its 
conclusions in this rulemaking. The Commission will not rely on 
anonymous postings in reaching conclusions in this matter because of 
the difficulty in verifying the accuracy of information in anonymous 
postings. Should posters provide identifying information, they should 
be aware that although such information will not be posted on the blog, 
it will be publicly available for inspection upon request.
    9. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
    10. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex 
parte submissions will be publicly available online via ECFS. These 
documents will also be available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, which is 
located in Room CY-A257 at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. The Reference Information Center is open to the 
public Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday 
from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kimberly A. Scardino,
Acting Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline 
Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-06655 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P