[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 167 (Wednesday, September 1, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48952-48953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18754]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[WC Docket No. 12-375; DA 21-978; FR ID 44950]


Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission is 
extending the time to file comments and reply comments in this 
proceeding in order to afford interested parties sufficient time to 
prepare them.

DATES: Comments are due on or before September 27, 2021. Reply Comments 
are due on or before October 27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket No. 12-375, 
by any of the following methods:

[[Page 48953]]

     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing.
     Filings can be sent 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.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
     Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the 
Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. 
This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety 
of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC 
Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-
Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy.
    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: Simon Solemani, Pricing Policy 
Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-2270 or via 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
DA 21-978, adopted and released on August 10, 2021. The full text of 
this document is available at: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-978A1.pdf. The full text of Telecommunications for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI)'s motion is available at: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/10802213863368/2021.08.02%20Advocates%20Carceral%20Comms%20Motion%20for%20Extension%20final.pdf.
    1. By this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the 
Federal Communications Commission grants an extension of time for 
filing comments and reply comments on the Fifth FNPRM (86 FR 40416) in 
the above-captioned proceeding. As a result, comments are now due on 
September 27, 2021 and reply comments are now due on October 27, 2021.
    2. On May 24, 2021, the Commission released the ICS Third Report 
and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding. The Fifth FNPRM set deadlines 
for filing comments and reply comments at 30 and 60 days, respectively, 
after a summary of the item was published in the Federal Register. The 
Federal Register published that summary on July 28, 2021, and 
established deadlines of August 27, 2021 and September 27, 2021 for 
filing comments and reply comments, respectively.
    3. On August 3, 2021, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of 
Hearing, Inc. (TDI), supported by the Benton Institute for Broadband & 
Society, HEARD, the Human Rights Defense Center, the National 
Association of the Deaf (NAD), Public Knowledge, the United Church of 
Christ, OC Inc., Voqal, and Worth Rises (collectively, Movants) filed a 
Motion for Extension of Time seeking 30-day extensions of the comment 
and reply deadlines. Movants explain that ``the Commission's important 
and numerous inquiries in the Fifth FNPRM are wide-ranging and complex, 
and affording additional time for organizations to develop their 
comments will ensure that a full record is developed.'' Movants further 
explain that their ability to meet the current comment and reply 
comment deadlines is compromised due to staffing concerns during the 
month of August, a reply comment schedule condensed by two holidays, 
and the need for at least one of the movants to transition to new legal 
clinic staff between now and the filing deadlines. Movants assert that 
``a brief extension would provide the organizations and their counsel 
sufficient time to finish developing a full array of comments on the 
broad range of important issues presented by the Fifth [FNPRM].'' No 
party has filed an opposition to the Movants' request.
    4. As set forth in 47 CFR 1.46, it is the policy of the Commission 
that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted. Nevertheless, 
the Bureau finds that Movants have shown good cause for an extension of 
the comment and reply comment deadlines and that the public interest 
will be served by extending the comment deadline to September 27, 2021 
and, extending the reply comment deadline to October 27, 2021.
    5. Under these circumstances, and in the interest of allowing all 
parties an opportunity to fully and meaningfully respond to the 
comments and expert reports filed in response to the Fifth FNPRM, the 
Bureau agrees that an extension of the reply comment deadline is 
warranted.
    6. This action is taken pursuant to delegated authority 47 CFR 
0.291.

Federal Communications Commission.
Daniel Kahn,
Associate Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2021-18754 Filed 8-31-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P