[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48640-48641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19340]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 69

[WC Docket No. 05-25 and RM-10593; DA 13-1677]


Special Access Proceeding; Comment Deadline Extension

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment and reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) 
extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on section 
IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that was adopted on 
December 11, 2012 in the special access proceeding. This extension is 
necessary to allow time for the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) to collect data on the special access market prior to the 
submission of comments and replies.

DATES: For section IV.B of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(78 FR 2600, January 11, 2013), the new Comment Date is March 19, 2014, 
and the new Reply Comment Date is April 30, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by WC Docket No. 05-25 
and RM-10593 by any of the following methods:
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
     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: William Layton, Pricing Policy 
Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-0868 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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.
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
     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 filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [cir] 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.
    [cir] 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.
    [cir] 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 email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
    The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's 
ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy 
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

I. Background

    On December 11, 2012, the Commission adopted a Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the special access proceeding, 
Special Access for Price Cap Local Exchange Carriers; AT&T Corporation 
Petition for Rulemaking to Reform Regulation of Incumbent Local 
Exchange Carrier Rates for Interstate Special Access Services, 78 FR 
2600, Jan. 11, 2013 (Further Notice). It required providers and 
purchasers of special access and certain other entities providing 
``best efforts'' service to submit data and information for a 
comprehensive evaluation of the special access market. The Commission 
also sought comment on possible changes to its rules for granting 
pricing flexibility for the special access services provided by 
incumbent local exchange carriers in price cap areas; parties were 
expected to provide comments on rule changes after the Commission 
collected data for the market analysis. The stated deadline for 
submitting comments was August 19, 2013, and September 30, 2013 for 
reply comments.

II. Synopsis of Public Notice Extending Comment Deadlines

    Since the release of the Further Notice, the Bureau has worked 
diligently to implement the data

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collection. The Bureau expects to begin collecting data towards the end 
of this year or early next year after receiving the Office of 
Management and Budget's approval for the collection in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. Collection of the data is necessary before 
parties can comment on the questions posed in the Further Notice. 
Accordingly, we extend the deadline for filing comments and reply 
comments so that parties may prepare their comments after the data are 
collected and made available for review. The new comment date is March 
19, 2014, and the new reply comment date is April 30, 2014.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis

    Document DA 13-1677 does not contain proposed information 
collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any 
proposed 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).
    For further information, please contact William Layton, Pricing 
Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-0868 or 
[email protected].

Federal Communications Commission.
Deena M. Shetler,
Associate Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-19340 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P