[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66357-66359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26482]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WC Docket No. 06-122; DA 13-2090]


Proposed Changes to FCC Form 499-A, FCC Form 499-Q, and 
Accompanying Instructions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document the Federal Communications Commission's 
Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on proposed 
revisions to the annual Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC 
Form 499-A (Form 499-A) and accompanying instructions (Form 499-A 
Instructions) to be used in 2014 to report 2013 revenues, and the 
quarterly Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-Q (Form 
499-Q) and accompanying instructions (Form 499-Q Instructions) to be 
used in 2014 to report projected collected revenues on a quarterly 
basis.

DATES: Comments are due on or before November 27, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may file comments on or before November 
27, 2013. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 06-122. Comments 
may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS) or by filing paper copies, by any of the following methods:
     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.
     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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Eberle, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Wireline 
Competition Bureau's Public Notice in WC Docket No. 06-122; DA 13-2090, 
released October 29, 2013. The complete text of this document 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. The 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) 863-2898, 
or via the Internet at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.bcpiweb.comhttp://www.bcpiweb.com.

I. Synopsis

    1. In order to promote clarity, transparency and predictability, 
the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau)

[[Page 66358]]

seeks comment on proposed revisions to (1) the annual 
Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-A (Form 499-A) and 
accompanying instructions (Form 499-A Instructions) to be used in 2014 
to report 2013 revenues, and (2) the quarterly Telecommunications 
Reporting Worksheet, FCC Form 499-Q (Form 499-Q) and accompanying 
instructions (Form 499-Q Instructions) to be used in 2014 to report 
projected collected revenues on a quarterly basis. The revisions to the 
forms and instructions are attached to the Public Notice in redline 
format, showing proposed changes from the forms and instructions 
currently in effect. The redlines may be viewed on the Commission's Web 
site, as follows: Form 499-A, available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-2090A2.pdf; Form 499-A Instructions, 
available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-2090A3.pdf; Form 499-Q, available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-2090A4.pdf; and Form 499-Q Instructions 
available at http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-13-2090A5.pdf.

II. Discussion

    THE PROPOSED REVISIONS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS:
    2. Form 499-A Instructions
    A. Page 6. Revised to direct filers to the USAC Web site for 
details regarding documentation that must be filed when a filer ceases 
providing telecommunications.
    B. Page 10. Revised to instruct filers that lack Internal Revenue 
Service employer identification numbers to contact USAC for an 
alternative identification number.
    C. Pages 10-11. Revised to emphasize that all ``affiliated'' 
filers, as that term is defined under 47 U.S.C. 153, should enter a 
common identifier (the ``Affiliated Filers Name/Holding Company 
Name''). Typically this is the name of the filer's holding company, but 
in some instances, a group of affiliated filers may choose to designate 
an entity that is not the holding company of each affiliate. The term 
``holding company'' is replaced by ``Affiliate Filers Name/Holding 
Company Name'' where appropriate throughout the Form 499-A 
Instructions.
    D. Page 12. Contact information is added for filer inquiries 
regarding the instructions for Interstate Telecommunications Service 
Providers (ITSP) regulatory fee bills.
    E. Page 12. Revised to clarify that only common carriers are 
required to designate an agent in the District of Columbia.
    F. Page 15. A paragraph containing instructions on reporting of 
certain international revenues is moved from Page 20 to the ``Note on 
International Services'' on Page 14. This edit clarifies that the 
instruction applies to all international revenues.
    G. Page 19. Consistent with the Lifeline Reform Order (FCC 12-134; 
rel February 6, 2012), the following sentence is deleted: ``Line 308 
should include as revenues Lifeline Assistance reimbursement for the 
waived portion of subscriber line or presubscribed interexchange 
carrier charges from the Low Income or High Cost universal service 
support mechanism.
    H. Pages 23-27. Consistent with the 2012 Wholesaler-Reseller 
Clarification Order (FCC-134; rel November 5, 2012)), and consistent 
with a recent industry proposal to implement the order, revised to 
clarify the definition of reseller, provide sample reseller 
certification language, and clarify the safe harbor and reasonable 
expection standards for fillers that report revenues from reseller 
customers.
    I. Page 28. Revised to clarify that total revenues reported in 
column (a) include intrastate revenues even though intrastate revenues 
are not reported separately on the Form 499-A.
    J. Page 37. Revised to delete contact information for the Wireline 
Competition Bureau and Industry Analysis and Technology Division; 
filers should contact USAC with questions about the Forms 499.
    K. Page 38. Consistent with the requirements of the Twenty-First 
Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 and the 2011 
TRS Contributions Order (FCC 11-150; rel October 7, 2011) implementing 
those requirements, citations to section 715 of the Act and 47 U.S.C. 
section 616 are added throughout, and page 38 is revised to clarify 
that providers of non-interconnected VoIP service are required to 
contribute to the interstate TRS support mechanism.
    3. Form 499-Q Instructions.
    A. Page 10. Revised to instruct filers that lack Internal Revenue 
Service employer identification numbers to contact USAC for an 
alternative identification number.
    B. Page 10-11. Revised to emphasize that all ``affiliated'' filers, 
as that term is defined under 47 U.S.C. section 153, should enter a 
common identifier (the ``Affiliated Filers Name''). Typically this is 
the name of the filer's holding company, but in some instances, a group 
of affiliated filers may choose to designate an entity that is not the 
holding company of each affiliate.
    C. Page 11-13. Consistent with the 2012 Wholesaler-Reseller 
Clarification Order, revised to clarify the definition of ``reseller,'' 
provide sample reseller certification language, and clarify the safe 
harbor and ``reasonable expectation'' standards for filers that report 
revenues from reseller customers.
    D. Page 15. Revised to clarify that total revenues reported in 
column (a) include intrastate revenues even though intrastate revenues 
are not reported separately on the Form 499-Q.
    E. Page 21. Revised to delete contact information for the Wireline 
Competition Bureau and Industry Analysis and Technology Division; 
filers should contact USAC with questions about the Forms 499.
    4. Stylistic Changes. In several instances, wording in the 
instructions is revised for clarification purposes, without changing 
the substance.
    5. Date Changes. Dates are updated throughout. References to 
``2013'' are changed to ``2014,'' and references to ``2012'' are 
changed to ``2013''.
    6. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This document does not contain 
new or modified 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 burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small 
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(4).
    7. 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 on or 
before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. All 
pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 06-122. Comments may be filed 
using: (1) The Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or 
(2) by filing paper copies. All filings must be addressed to the 
Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission.
    8. Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using 
the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/. Filers 
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting 
comments.
    9. Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an 
original and one copy of each filing. 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

[[Page 66359]]

Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St. 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 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.
    10. Additional copies. We request that parties send one copy of 
each filing to each of the following:
     The Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and 
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 
20554, www.bcpiweb.com; phone: (202) 488-5300 fax: (202) 488-5563;
     Charles Eberle, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-B530, 
Washington, DC 20554; email: [email protected] and
     Charles Tyler, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, 
Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-A452, 
Washington, DC 20554; email: [email protected].
    11. 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
    12. Filings and comments are also available for public inspection 
and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone: (202) 
488-5300, fax: (202) 488-5563, or via email www.bcpiweb.com.
    13. 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.

Federal Communications Commission.
Kimberly Scardino,
Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline 
Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-26482 Filed 11-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P