Request To Update Default Compensation Rate for Dial-Around Calls From Payphones, 24740-24748 [05-9097]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 11, 2005 / Proposed Rules
final disapproval, the sanctions clock
under 179(a) will begin. If OEPA does
not submit and we do not approve the
rule on which any disapproval is based
within 18 months of the disapproval, we
must impose one of the sanctions under
section 179(b) highway funding
restrictions or the offset sanction. In
addition, any final disapproval would
start the 24-month clock for the
imposition of section 110(c) Federal
Implementation Plan. Finally, under
section 110(m) the EPA has
discretionary authority to impose
sanctions at any time after final
disapproval.
IV. What Action Is EPA Taking Today?
EPA is proposing conditional
approval of Ohio permit to install
revisions. On December 31, 2002, EPA
published revisions to the federal PSD
and NSR regulations in 40 CFR parts 51
and 52 (67 FR 80186). These ‘‘NSR
Reform’’ regulatory revisions became
effective on March 3, 2003, and include
provisions for baseline emissions
determinations, actual-to-future actual
methodology, plantwide applicability
limits (PALs), clean units, and pollution
control projects (PCPs). EPA is
proposing to conditionally approve
OEPA’s revised rules to implement
these NSR Reform provisions.
V. Statutory and Executive Order
Reviews
Executive Order 12866; Regulatory
Planning and Review
Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR
51735, October 4, 1993), this action is
not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ and
therefore is not subject to review by the
Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
Because it is not a ‘‘significant
regulatory action’’ under Executive
Order 12866 or a ‘‘significant energy
action,’’ this action is also not subject to
Executive Order 13211, ‘‘Actions
Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use’’ (66 FR 28355, May
22, 2001).
Regulatory Flexibility Act
This proposed action merely proposes
to approve State law as meeting Federal
requirements and imposes no additional
requirements beyond those imposed by
State law. Accordingly, the
Administrator certifies that this
proposed rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities under the
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Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601
et seq.).
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Because this rule proposes to approve
pre-existing requirements under State
law and does not impose any additional
enforceable duty beyond that required
by State law, it does not contain any
unfunded mandate or significantly or
uniquely affect small governments, as
described in the Unfunded Mandates
Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–4).
Executive Order 13175 Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This proposed rule also does not have
tribal implications because it will not
have a substantial direct effect on one or
more Indian tribes, on the relationship
between the Federal Government and
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of
power and responsibilities between the
Federal Government and Indian tribes,
as specified by Executive Order 13175
(59 FR 22951, November 9, 2000).
Executive Order 13132 Federalism
This action also does not have
Federalism implications because it does
not have substantial direct effects on the
States, on the relationship between the
National Government and the States, or
on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government, as specified in
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255,
August 10, 1999). This action merely
proposes to approve a State rule
implementing a Federal standard, and
does not alter the relationship or the
distribution of power and
responsibilities established in the Clean
Air Act.
Executive Order 13045 Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
This proposed rule also is not subject
to Executive Order 13045 ‘‘Protection of
Children from Environmental Health
Risks and Safety Risks’’ (62 FR 19885,
April 23, 1997), because it is not
economically significant.
National Technology Transfer
Advancement Act
In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA’s
role is to approve State choices,
provided that they meet the criteria of
the Clean Air Act. In this context, in the
absence of a prior existing requirement
for the State to use voluntary consensus
standards (VCS), EPA has no authority
to disapprove a SIP submission for
failure to use VCS. It would thus be
inconsistent with applicable law for
EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission,
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to use VCS in place of a SIP submission
that otherwise satisfies the provisions of
the Clean Air Act. Thus, the
requirements of section 12(d) of the
National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C.
272 note) do not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This proposed rule does not impose
an information collection burden under
the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.).
List of Subjects in Part 52
Environmental protection, Air
pollution control, Incorporation by
reference, Intergovernmental relations,
Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile
organic compounds.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
Dated: April 29, 2005.
Bharat Mathur,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 05–9403 Filed 5–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[WC DOCKET NO. 03–225; FCC 05–71]
Request To Update Default
Compensation Rate for Dial-Around
Calls From Payphones
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Further notice of proposed
rulemaking.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In this document, the
Commission seeks current and accurate
data on the average number of
compensable dial-around calls made
from payphones on a monthly basis.
This average monthly data will be used
to calculate a monthly per-payphone
default compensation rate, which will
apply to payphones that are not
connected to Flex ANI, a call-tracking
technology.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
June 27, 2005. Submit reply comments
on or before July 25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by WC Docket No. 03–225, by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
regulations.gov. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
• Agency Web site: https://
www.fcc.gov. Follow the instructions for
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submitting comments on our electronic
Web site: https://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/
edocs_public/SilverStream/Pages/
edocs.html.
• E-mail: Jon.Stover@fcc.gov. Include
WC Docket No. 03–225 in the subject
line of the message.
• Fax: (202) 418–1567
• Mail: Commission’s Secretary,
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20554.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission,
Office of the Secretary, c/o Natek, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite
110, Washington, DC 20002.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number for this rulemaking. All
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/
SilverStream/Pages/edocs.html,
including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the ‘‘Public Participation’’ heading
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/
SilverStream/Pages/edocs.html and/or
Federal Communications Commission,
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington,
DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon
Stover, Wireline Competition Bureau,
Pricing Policy Division, (202) 418–0390.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WC
Docket No. 03–225, adopted on March
10, 2005 and released on March 14,
2005. The complete text of this Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(FNPRM) is available for public
inspection Monday through Thursday
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from
8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Commission’s
Consumer and Governmental Affairs
Bureau, Reference Information Center,
Room CY–A257, 445 Twelfth Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20554. The
complete text is also available on the
Commission’s Internet Site at https://
www. fcc.gov. Alternative formats are
available to persons with disabilities by
contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418–
7426 or TTY (202) 418–7365. The
complete text of the FNPRM may be
purchased from the Commission’s
duplicating contractor, Best Copying
and Printing, Inc., Room CY–B402, 445
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Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC
20554, telephone (202) 863–2893,
facsimile (202) 863–2898, or e-mail at
https://www.bcpiweb.com.
Synopsis of Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
1. When the Commission initially
adopted a payphone compensation rule
pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 276(b)(1)(A),
many carriers lacked reliable systems
for tracking dial-around calls. In the
Commission’s First Payphone Report
and Order, it ordered compensation to
be paid initially on a per-phone, rather
than a per-call basis. To arrive at the
total per-payphone rate, the
Commission calculated that 131 dialaround calls were placed from the
average payphone per month. When this
average volume amount was multiplied
by the then current per-call default rate
of $.35, the result yielded a per-phone
compensation rate of $45.85 per month.
2. Since the release of the First
Payphone Report and Order,
approximately 95 percent of all
payphones have been connected to Flex
ANI, a call-tracking technology that
accurately tracks payphone calls from
the payphone instrument to the called
party. The remaining five per cent of
payphones, which are generally located
in remote and rural geographic areas are
not connected to Flex ANI. With this
FNPRM, the Commission continues to
implement the requirements of 47
U.S.C. 276 of the Communications Act
of 1934, as amended, which directs the
Commission to ‘‘promote the
widespread deployment of payphone
services to the benefit of the general
public.’’
3. Although the Commission recently
increased the per-call rate to $.494, it
has not updated the average number of
dial-around calls per payphone since
1997. The record in this proceeding
indicates that since 1998, there has been
a significant decline in per-payphone
call volumes. If dial-around call
volumes have followed the same trend
as overall call volumes, the data sought
by this FNPRM will probably also have
significantly declined.
4. Finally, once the Commission
receives the updated volumetric data, it
will calculate a new monthly perpayphone rate based on the new data
and the existing per-call rate. The new
monthly rate will ensure that all
payphone service providers are ‘‘fairly
compensated’’ for each and every
completed intrastate and interstate call
using their payphone.
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Initial Paperwork Reduction Act
Analysis
5. This FNPRM contains new
information collection requirements.
The Commission, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
burdens, invites the general public and
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to take this opportunity to
comment on the information collections
contained in this FNPRM, as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104–13. Public and
agency comments are due 60 days after
date of publication in the Federal
Register. Comments should address: (a)
Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the Commission’s
burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information collected; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents,
including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology. In addition,
pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public
Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4),
we seek specific comment on how we
might ‘‘further reduce the information
collection burden for small business
concerns with fewer than 25
employees.’’
OMB Control Number: 3060–XXXX.
Title: Request to Update Default
Compensation Rate for WC Docket No.
03–225 Dial-Around Calls from
Payphones.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: New collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
10.
Estimated Time Per Response: 100
hours.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1000
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Costs: 0.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Needs and Uses: We seek additional
data to enable us to determine a more
accurate estimate of the average number
of compensable dial-around calls at a
payphone. We urge payphone service
providers (PSPs) to provide us with
current data showing the average
number of compensable dial-around
calls placed at their payphones. We
request that parties submitting data
provide details that will enable us to
evaluate the data and determine how to
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use the data. Data submissions should
include, if possible, details showing
how the data were gathered, how
samples were selected, the total number
of payphones of each type (e.g., ‘‘dumb’’
vs. ‘‘smart,’’ regional Bell Operating
Companies (RBOC) vs. independent) in
the sample and in the population from
which the sample was taken, and the
types of locations represented in the
sample. Attempts to gain advantage by
failing to provide us with the necessary
context to evaluate their submissions
will result in their data being
discounted or rejected. We invite parties
to submit information on the number of
payphones that currently are located in
non-equal access areas and in areas
where small telephone companies have
received a waiver of the Flex ANI
requirement, and on the average number
of compensable dial-around calls
originating from such payphones.
6. In addition to filing comments with
the Secretary, a copy of any comments
on the information collection(s)
contained herein should be submitted to
Judith Boley Herman, Federal
Communications Commission, Room 1C804, 445 12th Street SW., Washington,
DC 20554, or via the Internet to Judith
B. Herman@fcc.gov, and to Kristy L.
Lalonde, OMB Desk Officer, Room
10234 NEOB, 725 17th Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20503, or via the
Internet to Kristy L.
LaLonde@omb.eop.gov.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
7. As required by the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended
(RFA), the Commission has prepared an
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) of the possible significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities by the policies
and rule proposed in the FNPRM.
8. With this FNPRM, the Commission
continues its implementation of the
statutory objectives of section 276 of
ensuring payphone service providers are
fairly compensation and promoting the
widespread deployment of payphones.
Need for, and Objectives of, the
Proposed Rules
9. The Commission’s goal in this
proceeding is to ensure that all
payphone service providers are fairly
compensation. Once this proceeding is
completed, all payphone operations
including those not connected to Flex
ANI will be receiving fair compensation
for all completed intrastate and
interstate calls made from payphones.
Legal Basis
10. The legal basis for any action that
may be taken pursuant to this FNPRM
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is contained in sections 1–5, 7, 10, 201–
05, 207–09, 214, 218–20, 225–27, 251–
54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405, 502 and
503 of the Communications Act of 1934,
as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151–55, 157, 160,
201–05, 207–09, 214, 218–20, 225–27,
251–54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405,
502, and 503 and sections 1.1, 1.421 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.1,
1.421.
Description and Estimate of the Number
of Small Entities to Which the Proposed
Rules Will Apply
11. The RFA directs agencies to
provide a description of, and, where
feasible, an estimate of the number of
small entities that may be affected by
rules adopted herein. The RFA generally
defines the term ‘‘small entity’’ as
having the same meaning as the terms
‘‘small business,’’ ‘‘small organization,’’
and ‘‘small governmental jurisdiction.’’
In addition, the term ‘‘small business’’
has the same meaning as the term
‘‘small business concern’’ under the
Small Business Act. A ‘‘small business
concern’’ is one that: (1) Is
independently owned and operated; (2)
is not dominant in its field of operation;
and (3) satisfies any additional criteria
established by the Small Business
Administration (SBA). 5 U.S.C. 632.
12. In this section, the Commission
further describes and estimates the
number of small entity licensees and
regulatees that may also be indirectly
affected by rules adopted pursuant to
this FNPRM. The most reliable source of
information regarding the total numbers
of certain common carrier and related
providers nationwide, as well as the
number of commercial wireless entities,
appears to be the data that the
Commission publishes in its Trends in
Telephone Service report. The SBA has
developed small business size standards
for wireline and wireless small
businesses within the three commercial
census categories of Wired
Telecommunications Carriers, Paging,
and Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications. Under these
categories, a business is small if it has
1,500 or fewer employees. Below, using
the above size standards and others, the
Commission discusses the total
estimated numbers of small businesses
that might be affected by its actions.
13. Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for Wired
Telecommunications Carriers, which
consists of all such companies having
1,500 or fewer employees. According to
Census Bureau data for 1997, there were
2,225 firms in this category, total, that
operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 2,201 firms had employment of
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999 or fewer employees, and an
additional 24 firms had employment of
1,000 employees or more. Thus, under
this size standard, the majority of firms
can be considered small.
14. Local Exchange Carriers. Neither
the Commission nor the SBA has
developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to
local exchange services. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 1,310 carriers
reported that they were incumbent local
exchange service providers. Of these
1,310 carriers, an estimated 1,025 have
1,500 or fewer employees and 285 have
more than 1,500 employees. In addition,
according to Commission data, 563
companies reported that they were
engaged in the provision of either
competitive access provider services or
competitive local exchange carrier
services. Of these 563 companies, an
estimated 472 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and 91 have more than 1,500
employees. In addition, 37 carriers
reported that they were ‘‘Other Local
Exchange Carriers.’’ Of the 37 ‘‘Other
Local Exchange Carriers,’’ an estimated
36 have 1,500 or fewer employees and
one has more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that most providers of local
exchange service, competitive local
exchange service, competitive access
providers, and ‘‘Other Local Exchange
Carriers’’ are small entities that may be
affected by the rules and policies
adopted herein.
15. Interexchange Carriers. Neither
the Commission nor the SBA has
developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to
interexchange services. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 281 companies
reported that they were interexchange
carriers. Of these 281 companies, an
estimated 254 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and 27 have more than 1,500
employees. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that the majority
of interexchange service providers are
small entities that may be affected by
the rules and policies adopted herein.
16. Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for Wired
Telecommunications Carriers, which
consists of all such companies having
1,500 or fewer employees. According to
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Census Bureau data for 1997, there were
2,225 firms in this category, total, that
operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 2,201 firms had employment of
999 or fewer employees, and an
additional 24 firms had employment of
1,000 employees or more. Thus, under
this size standard, the majority of firms
can be considered small.
17. Incumbent Local Exchange
Carriers (LECs). Neither the Commission
nor the SBA has developed a size
standard for small businesses
specifically applicable to incumbent
local exchange services. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 1,337 carriers
reported that they were engaged in the
provision of local exchange services. Of
these 1,337 carriers, an estimated 1,032
have 1,500 or fewer employees and 305
have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that most providers of
incumbent local exchange service are
small businesses that may be affected by
the rules and policies adopted herein.
18. Competitive Local Exchange
Carriers (CLECs), Competitive Access
Providers (CAPs), and ‘‘Other Local
Exchange Carriers.’’ Neither the
Commission nor the SBA has developed
a size standard for small businesses
specifically applicable to providers of
competitive exchange services or to
competitive access providers or to
‘‘Other Local Exchange Carriers,’’ all of
which are discrete categories under
which TRS data are collected. The
closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired
Telecommunications Carriers. Under
that size standard, such a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 609
companies reported that they were
engaged in the provision of either
competitive access provider services or
competitive local exchange carrier
services. Of these 609 companies, an
estimated 458 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and 151 have more than
1,500 employees. In addition, 35
carriers reported that they were ‘‘Other
Local Service Providers.’’ Of the 35
‘‘Other Local Service Providers,’’ an
estimated 34 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and one has more than 1,500
employees. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that most
providers of competitive local exchange
service, competitive access providers,
and ‘‘Other Local Exchange Carriers’’
are small entities that may be affected
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by the rules and policies adopted
herein.
19. Interexchange Carriers (IXCs).
Neither the Commission nor the SBA
has developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to
interexchange services. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 261 companies
reported that their primary
telecommunications service activity was
the provision of interexchange services.
Of these 261 companies, an estimated
223 have 1,500 or fewer employees and
38 have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of
interexchange service providers are
small entities that may be affected by
the rules and policies adopted herein.
20. Operator Service Providers (OSPs).
Neither the Commission nor the SBA
has developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to
operator service providers. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 23 companies
reported that they were engaged in the
provision of operator services. Of these
23 companies, an estimated 22 have
1,500 or fewer employees and one has
more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of operator
service providers are small entities that
may be affected by the rules and
policies adopted herein.
21. Payphone Service Providers
(PSPs). Neither the Commission nor the
SBA has developed a size standard for
small businesses specifically applicable
to payphone service providers. The
closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired
Telecommunications Carriers. Under
that size standard, such a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 761
companies reported that they were
engaged in the provision of payphone
services. Of these 761 companies, an
estimated 757 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and four have more than
1,500 employees. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that the majority
of payphone service providers are small
entities that may be affected by the rules
and policies adopted herein.
22. Prepaid Calling Card Providers.
The SBA has developed a size standard
for a small business within the category
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24743
of Telecommunications Resellers. Under
that SBA size standard, such a business
is small if it has 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Commission
data, 37 companies reported that they
were engaged in the provision of
prepaid calling cards. Of these 37
companies, an estimated 36 have 1,500
or fewer employees and one has more
than 1,500 employees. Consequently,
the Commission estimates that the
majority of prepaid calling card
providers are small entities that may be
affected by the rules and policies
adopted herein.
23. Local Resellers. The SBA has
developed a small business size
standard for the category of
Telecommunications Resellers. Under
that size standard, such a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 133
carriers have reported that they are
engaged in the provision of local resale
services. Of these, an estimated 127
have 1,500 or fewer employees and six
have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of local
resellers are small entities that may be
affected by its action.
24. Toll Resellers. The SBA has
developed a small business size
standard for the category of
Telecommunications Resellers. Under
that size standard, such a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 625
carriers have reported that they are
engaged in the provision of toll resale
services. Of these, an estimated 590
have 1,500 or fewer employees and 35
have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of toll
resellers are small entities that may be
affected by its action.
25. Other Toll Carriers. Neither the
Commission nor the SBA has developed
a size standard for small businesses
specifically applicable to ‘‘Other Toll
Carriers.’’ This category includes toll
carriers that do not fall within the
categories of interexchange carriers,
operator service providers, prepaid
calling card providers, satellite service
carriers, or toll resellers. The closest
applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications
Carriers. Under that size standard, such
a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to
Commission’s data, 92 companies
reported that their primary
telecommunications service activity was
the provision of other toll carriage. Of
these 92 companies, an estimated 82
have 1,500 or fewer employees and ten
have more than 1,500 employees.
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Consequently, the Commission
estimates that most ‘‘Other Toll
Carriers’’ are small entities that may be
affected by the rules and policies
adopted herein.
26. Paging. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for Paging,
which consists of all such firms having
1,500 or fewer employees. According to
Census Bureau data for 1997, in this
category there was a total of 1,320 firms
that operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 1,303 firms had employment of
999 or fewer employees, and an
additional seventeen firms had
employment of 1,000 employees or
more. Thus, under this size standard,
the majority of firms can be considered
small.
27. Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications. The SBA has
developed a small business size
standard for Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunication, which consists of
all such firms having 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Census Bureau
data for 1997, in this category there was
a total of 977 firms that operated for the
entire year. Of this total, 965 firms had
employment of 999 or fewer employees,
and an additional twelve firms had
employment of 1,000 employees or
more. Thus, under this size standard,
the majority of firms can be considered
small.
28. Broadband Personal
Communications Service. The
broadband Personal Communications
Service (PCS) spectrum is divided into
six frequency blocks designated A
through F, and the Commission has held
auctions for each block. The
Commission defined ‘‘small entity’’ for
Blocks C and F as an entity that has
average gross revenues of $40 million or
less in the three previous calendar
years. For Block F, an additional
classification for ‘‘very small business’’
was added and is defined as an entity
that, together with its affiliates, has
average gross revenues of not more than
$15 million for the preceding three
calendar years. These standards
defining ‘‘small entity’’ in the context of
broadband PCS auctions have been
approved by the SBA. No small
businesses, within the SBA-approved
small business size standards bid
successfully for licenses in Blocks A
and B. There were 90 winning bidders
that qualified as small entities in the
Block C auctions. A total of 93 small
and very small business bidders won
approximately 40 percent of the 1,479
licenses for Blocks D, E, and F. On
March 23, 1999, the Commission reauctioned 347 C, D, E, and F Block
licenses. There were 48 small business
winning bidders. On January 26, 2001,
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the Commission completed the auction
of 422 C and F Broadband PCS licenses
in Auction No. 35. Of the 35 winning
bidders in this auction, 29 qualified as
‘‘small’’ or ‘‘very small’’ businesses.
Based on this information, the
Commission concludes that the number
of small broadband PCS licenses will
include the 90 winning C Block bidders,
the 93 qualifying bidders in the D, E,
and F Block auctions, the 48 winning
bidders in the 1999 re-auction, and the
29 winning bidders in the 2001 reauction, for a total of 260 small entity
broadband PCS providers, as defined by
the SBA small business size standards
and the Commission’s auction rules.
The Commission notes that, as a general
matter, the number of winning bidders
that qualify as small businesses at the
close of an auction does not necessarily
represent the number of small
businesses currently in service. Also,
the Commission does not generally track
subsequent business size unless, in the
context of assignments or transfers,
unjust enrichment issues are implicated.
29. Narrowband Personal
Communications Services. The
Commission has adopted a two-tiered
small business size standard in the
Narrowband PCS Second Report and
Order, 65 FR 35875, June 6, 2000. A
‘‘small business’’ is an entity that,
together with affiliates and controlling
interests, has average gross revenues for
the three preceding years of not more
than $40 million. A ‘‘very small
business’’ is an entity that, together with
affiliates and controlling interests, has
average gross revenues for the three
preceding years of not more than $15
million. The SBA has approved these
small business size standards. In the
future, the Commission will auction 459
licenses to serve Metropolitan Trading
Areas (MTAs) and 408 response channel
licenses. There is also one megahertz of
narrowband PCS spectrum that has been
held in reserve and that the Commission
has not yet decided to release for
licensing. The Commission cannot
predict accurately the number of
licenses that will be awarded to small
entities in future actions. However, four
of the 16 winning bidders in the two
previous narrowband PCS auctions were
small businesses, as that term was
defined under the Commission’s Rules.
The Commission assumes, for purposes
of this analysis, that a large portion of
the remaining narrowband PCS licenses
will be awarded to small entities. The
Commission also assumes that at least
some small businesses will acquire
narrowband PCS licenses by means of
the Commission’s partitioning and
disaggregation rules.
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30. 220 MHz Radio Service—Phase I
Licensees. The 220 MHz service has
both Phase I and Phase II licenses. Phase
I licensing was conducted by lotteries in
1992 and 1993. There are approximately
1,515 such non-nationwide licensees
and four nationwide licensees currently
authorized to operate in the 220 MHz
band. The Commission has not
developed a small business size
standard for small entities specifically
applicable to such incumbent 220 MHz
Phase I licensees. To estimate the
number of such licensees that are small
businesses, the Commission applies the
small business size standard under the
SBA rules applicable to ‘‘Cellular and
Other Wireless Telecommunications’’
companies. This standard provides that
such a company is small if it employs
no more than 1,500 persons. According
to Census Bureau data for 1997, there
were 977 firms in this category, total,
that operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 965 firms had employment of 999
or fewer employees, and an additional
12 firms had employment of 1,000
employees or more. If this general ratio
continues in the context of Phase I 220
MHz licensees, the Commission
estimates that nearly all such licensees
are small businesses under the SBA’s
small business size standard.
31. 220 MHz Radio Service—Phase II
Licensees. The 220 MHz service has
both Phase I and Phase II licenses. The
Phase II 220 MHz service is a new
service, and is subject to spectrum
auctions. In the 220 MHz Third Report
and Order, 62 FR 15978, April 3, 1997,
the Commission adopted a small
business size standard for ‘‘small’’ and
‘‘very small’’ businesses for purposes of
determining their eligibility for special
provisions such as bidding credits and
installment payments. This small
business size standard indicates that a
‘‘small business’’ is an entity that,
together with its affiliates and
controlling principals, has average gross
revenues not exceeding $15 million for
the preceding three years. A ‘‘very small
business’’ is an entity that, together with
its affiliates and controlling principals,
has average gross revenues that do not
exceed $3 million for the preceding
three years. The SBA has approved
these small business size standards.
Auctions of Phase II licenses
commenced on September 15, 1998, and
closed on October 22, 1998. In the first
auction, 908 licenses were auctioned in
three different-sized geographic areas:
three nationwide licenses, 30 Regional
Economic Area Group (EAG) Licenses,
and 875 Economic Area (EA) Licenses.
Of the 908 licenses auctioned, 693 were
sold. Thirty-nine small businesses won
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licenses in the first 220 MHz auction.
The second auction included 225
licenses: 216 EA licenses and 9 EAG
licenses. Fourteen companies claiming
small business status won 158 licenses.
32. 800 MHz and 900 MHz
Specialized Mobile Radio Licenses. The
Commission awards ‘‘small entity’’ and
‘‘very small entity’’ bidding credits in
auctions for Specialized Mobile Radio
(SMR) geographic area licenses in the
900 MHz bands to firms that had
revenues of no more than $15 million in
each of the three previous calendar
years, or that had revenues of no more
than $3 million in each of the previous
calendar years. The SBA has approved
these size standards. The Commission
awards ‘‘small entity’’ and ‘‘very small
entity’’ bidding credits in auctions for
Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR)
geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz
bands to firms that had revenues of no
more than $40 million in each of the
three previous calendar years, or that
had revenues of no more than $15
million in each of the previous calendar
years. These bidding credits apply to
SMR providers in the 800 MHz and 900
MHz bands that either hold geographic
area licenses or have obtained extended
implementation authorizations. The
Commission does not know how many
firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz
geographic area SMR service pursuant
to extended implementation
authorizations, nor how many of these
providers have annual revenues of no
more than $15 million. One firm has
over $15 million in revenues. The
Commission assumes, for purposes here,
that all of the remaining existing
extended implementation
authorizations are held by small
entities, as that term is defined by the
SBA. The Commission has held
auctions for geographic area licenses in
the 800 MHz and 900 MHz SMR bands.
There were 60 winning bidders that
qualified as small or very small entities
in the 900 MHz SMR auctions. Of the
1,020 licenses won in the 900 MHz
auction, bidders qualifying as small or
very small entities won 263 licenses. In
the 800 MHz auction, 38 of the 524
licenses won were won by small and
very small entities. The Commission
notes that, as a general matter, the
number of winning bidders that qualify
as small businesses at the close of an
auction does not necessarily represent
the number of small businesses
currently in service. Also, the
Commission does not generally track
subsequent business size unless, in the
context of assignments or transfers,
unjust enrichment issues are implicated.
33. Private and Common Carrier
Paging. In the Paging Third Report and
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Order, 62 FR 16004, April 3, 1997, the
Commission developed a small business
size standard for ‘‘small businesses’’ and
‘‘very small businesses’’ for purposes of
determining their eligibility for special
provisions such as bidding credits and
installment payments. A ‘‘small
business’’ is an entity that, together with
its affiliates and controlling principals,
has average gross revenues not
exceeding $15 million for the preceding
three years. Additionally, a ‘‘very small
business’’ is an entity that, together with
its affiliates and controlling principals,
has average gross revenues that are not
more than $3 million for the preceding
three years. The SBA has approved
these size standards. An auction of
Metropolitan Economic Area licenses
commenced on February 24, 2000, and
closed on March 2, 2000. Of the 985
licenses auctioned, 440 were sold. Fiftyseven companies claiming small
business status won. At present, there
are approximately 24,000 Private-Paging
site-specific licenses and 74,000
Common Carrier Paging licenses.
According to the most recent Trends in
Telephone Service, 471 carriers reported
that they were engaged in the provision
of either paging and messaging services
or other mobile services. Of those, the
Commission estimates that 450 are
small, under the SBA business size
standard specifying that firms are small
if they have 1,500 or fewer employees.
34. 700 MHz Guard Band Licensees.
In the 700 MHz Guard Band Order, 65
FR 3139, January 20, 2000, the
Commission adopted a small business
size standard for ‘‘small businesses’’ and
‘‘very small businesses’’ for purposes of
determining their eligibility for special
provisions such as bidding credits and
installment payments. A ‘‘small
business’’ as an entity that, together
with its affiliates and controlling
principals, has average gross revenues
not exceeding $15 million for the
preceding three years. Additionally, a
‘‘very small business’’ is an entity that,
together with its affiliates and
controlling principals, has average gross
revenues that are not more than $3
million for the preceding three years.
An auction of 52 Major Economic Area
(MEA) licenses commenced on
September 6, 2000, and closed on
September 21, 2000. Of the 104 licenses
auctioned, 96 licenses were sold to nine
bidders. Five of these bidders were
small businesses that won a total of 26
licenses. A second auction of 700 MHz
Guard Band licenses commenced on
February 13, 2001 and closed on
February 21, 2001. All eight of the
licenses auctioned were sold to three
bidders. One of these bidders was a
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small business that won a total of two
licenses.
35. Rural Radiotelephone Service. The
Commission has not adopted a size
standard for small businesses specific to
the Rural Radiotelephone Service. A
significant subset of the Rural
Radiotelephone Service is the Basic
Exchange Telephone Radio System
(BETRS). The Commission uses the
SBA’s small business size standard
applicable to ‘‘Cellular and Other
Wireless Telecommunications,’’ i.e., an
entity employing no more than 1,500
persons. There are approximately 1,000
licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone
Service, and the Commission estimates
that there are 1,000 or fewer small entity
licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone
Service that may be affected by the rules
and policies adopted herein.
36. Air-Ground Radiotelephone
Service. The Commission has not
adopted a small business size standard
specific to the Air-Ground
Radiotelephone Service. The
Commission will use SBA’s small
business size standard applicable to
‘‘Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications,’’ i.e., an entity
employing no more than 1,500 persons.
There are approximately 100 licensees
in the Air-Ground Radiotelephone
Service, and the Commission estimates
that almost all of them qualify as small
under the SBA small business size
standard.
37. Aviation and Marine Radio
Services. Small businesses in the
aviation and marine radio services use
a very high frequency (VHF) marine or
aircraft radio and, as appropriate, an
emergency position-indicating radio
beacon (and/or radar) or an emergency
locator transmitter. The Commission has
not developed a small business size
standard specifically applicable to these
small businesses. For purposes of this
analysis, the Commission uses the SBA
small business size standard for the
category ‘‘Cellular and Other
Telecommunications,’’ which is 1,500
or fewer employees. Most applicants for
recreational licenses are individuals.
Approximately 581,000 ship station
licensees and 131,000 aircraft station
licensees operate domestically and are
not subject to the radio carriage
requirements of any statute or treaty.
For purposes of evaluations in this
analysis, the Commission estimates that
there are up to approximately 712,000
licensees that are small businesses (or
individuals) under the SBA standard. In
addition, between December 3, 1998
and December 14, 1998, the
Commission held an auction of 42 VHF
Public Coast licenses in the 157.1875–
157.4500 MHz (ship transmit) and
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161.775–162.0125 MHz (coast transmit)
bands. For purposes of the auction, the
Commission defined a ‘‘small’’ business
as an entity that, together with
controlling interests and affiliates, has
average gross revenues for the preceding
three years not to exceed $15 million. In
addition, a ‘‘very small’’ business is one
that, together with controlling interests
and affiliates, has average gross
revenues for the preceding three years
not to exceed $3 million. There are
approximately 10,672 licensees in the
Marine Coast Service, and the
Commission estimates that almost all of
them qualify as ‘‘small’’ businesses
under the above special small business
size standards.
38. Fixed Microwave Services. Fixed
microwave services include common
carrier, private operational-fixed, and
broadcast auxiliary radio services. At
present, there are approximately 22,015
common carrier fixed licensees and
61,670 private operational-fixed
licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio
licensees in the microwave services.
The Commission has not created a size
standard for a small business
specifically with respect to fixed
microwave services. For purposes of
this analysis, the Commission uses the
SBA small business size standard for the
category ‘‘Cellular and Other
Telecommunications,’’ which is 1,500
or fewer employees. The Commission
does not have data specifying the
number of these licensees that have
more than 1,500 employees, and thus is
unable at this time to estimate with
greater precision the number of fixed
microwave service licensees that would
qualify as small business concerns
under the SBA’s small business size
standard. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that there are up
to 22,015 common carrier fixed
licensees and up to 61,670 private
operational-fixed licensees and
broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in
the microwave services that may be
small and may be affected by the rules
and policies adopted herein. The
Commission noted, however, that the
common carrier microwave fixed
licensee category includes some large
entities.
39. Offshore Radiotelephone Service.
This service operates on several UHF
television broadcast channels that are
not used for television broadcasting in
the coastal areas of states bordering the
Gulf of Mexico. There are presently
approximately 55 licensees in this
service. The Commission is unable to
estimate at this time the number of
licensees that would qualify as small
under the SBA’s small business size
standard for ‘‘Cellular and Other
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Wireless Telecommunications’’ services.
Under that SBA small business size
standard, a business is small if it has
1,500 or fewer employees.
40. Wireless Communications
Services. This service can be used for
fixed, mobile, radiolocation, and digital
audio broadcasting satellite uses. The
Commission established small business
size standards for the wireless
communications services (WCS)
auction. A ‘‘small business’’ is an entity
with average gross revenues of $40
million for each of the three preceding
years, and a ‘‘very small business’’ is an
entity with average gross revenues of
$15 million for each of the three
preceding years. The SBA has approved
these small business size standards. The
Commission auctioned geographic area
licenses in the WCS service. In the
auction, there were seven winning
bidders that qualified as ‘‘very small
business’’ entities, and one that
qualified as a ‘‘small business’’ entity.
The Commission concludes that the
number of geographic area WCS
licensees affected by this analysis
includes these eight entities.
41. 39 GHz Service. The Commission
created a special small business size
standard for 39 GHz licenses—an entity
that has average gross revenues of $40
million or less in the three previous
calendar years. An additional size
standard for ‘‘very small business’’ is:
An entity that, together with affiliates,
has average gross revenues of not more
than $15 million for the preceding three
calendar years. The SBA has approved
these small business size standards. The
auction of the 2,173 39 GHz licenses
began on April 12, 2000 and closed on
May 8, 2000. The 18 bidders who
claimed small business status won 849
licenses. Consequently, the Commission
estimates that 18 or fewer 39 GHz
licensees are small entities that may be
affected by the rules and policies
adopted herein.
42. Local Multipoint Distribution
Service. Local Multipoint Distribution
Service (LMDS) is a fixed broadband
point-to-multipoint microwave service
that provides for two-way video
telecommunications. The auction of the
1,030 Local Multipoint Distribution
Service (LMDS) licenses began on
February 18, 1998 and closed on March
25, 1998. The Commission established a
small business size standard for LMDS
licenses as an entity that has average
gross revenues of less than $40 million
in the three previous calendar years. An
additional small business size standard
for ‘‘very small business’’ was added as
an entity that, together with its affiliates,
has average gross revenues of not more
than $15 million for the preceding three
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calendar years. The SBA has approved
these small business size standards in
the context of LMDS auctions. There
were 93 winning bidders that qualified
as small entities in the LMDS auctions.
A total of 93 small and very small
business bidders won approximately
277 A Block licenses and 387 B Block
licenses. On March 27, 1999, the
Commission re-auctioned 161 licenses;
there were 40 winning bidders. Based
on this information, the Commission
concluded that the number of small
LMDS licenses consists of the 93
winning bidders in the first auction and
the 40 winning bidders in the reauction, for a total of 133 small entity
LMDS providers.
43. 218–219 MHz Service. The first
auction of 218–219 MHz spectrum
resulted in 170 entities winning licenses
for 594 Metropolitan Statistical Area
licenses. Of the 594 licenses, 557 were
won by entities qualifying as a small
business. For that auction, the small
business size standard was an entity
that, together with its affiliates, has no
more than a $6 million net worth and,
after federal income taxes (excluding
any carry over losses), has no more than
$2 million in annual profits each year
for the previous two years. In the 218–
219 MHz Report and Order and
Memorandum Opinion and Order, 64
FR 59656, November 3, 1999, the
Commission established a small
business size standard for a ‘‘small
business’’ as an entity that, together
with its affiliates and persons or entities
that hold interests in such an entity and
their affiliates, has average annual gross
revenues not to exceed $15 million for
the preceding three years. A ‘‘very small
business’’ is defined as an entity that,
together with its affiliates and persons
or entities that hold interests in such an
entity and its affiliates, has average
annual gross revenues not to exceed $3
million for the preceding three years.
The SBA has approved these size
standards. The Commission cannot
estimate, however, the number of
licenses that will be won by entities
qualifying as small or very small
businesses under its rules in future
auctions of 218–219 MHz spectrum.
44. 24 GHz—Incumbent Licensees.
This analysis may affect incumbent
licensees who were relocated to the 24
GHz band from the 18 GHz band, and
applicants who wish to provide services
in the 24 GHz band. The applicable SBA
small business size standard is that of
‘‘Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications’’ companies. This
category provides that such a company
is small if it employs no more than
1,500 persons. According to Census
Bureau data for 1997, there were 977
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firms in this category that operated for
the entire year. Of this total, 965 firms
had employment of 999 or fewer
employees, and an additional 12 firms
had employment of 1,000 employees or
more. Thus, under this size standard,
the great majority of firms can be
considered small. These broader census
data notwithstanding, the Commission
believes that there are only two
licensees in the 24 GHz band that were
relocated from the 18 GHz band,
Teligent and TRW, Inc. It is the
Commission’s understanding that
Teligent and its related companies have
less than 1,500 employees, though this
may change in the future. TRW is not a
small entity. Thus, only one incumbent
licensee in the 24 GHz band is a small
business entity.
45. 24 GHz—Future Licensees. With
respect to new applicants in the 24 GHz
band, the small business size standard
for ‘‘small business’’ is an entity that,
together with controlling interests and
affiliates, has average annual gross
revenues for the three preceding years
not in excess of $15 million. ‘‘Very
small business’’ in the 24 GHz band is
an entity that, together with controlling
interests and affiliates, has average gross
revenues not exceeding $3 million for
the preceding three years. The SBA has
approved these small business size
standards. These size standards will
apply to the future auction, if held.
46. Satellite Service Carriers. The SBA
has developed a size standard for small
businesses within the category of
Satellite Telecommunications. Under
that SBA size standard, such a business
is small if it has 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Commission
data, 31 carriers reported that they were
engaged in the provision of satellite
services. Of these 31 carriers, an
estimated 25 have 1,500 or fewer
employees and six, alone or in
combination with affiliates, have more
than 1,500 employees. Consequently,
the Commission estimates that there are
31 or fewer satellite service carriers
which are small businesses that may be
affected by the rules and policies
proposed herein.
47. Cable and Other Program
Distribution. This category includes
cable systems operators, closed circuit
television services, direct broadcast
satellite services, multipoint
distribution systems, satellite master
antenna systems, and subscription
television services. The SBA has
developed small business size standard
for this census category, which includes
all such companies generating $12.5
million or less in revenue annually.
According to Census Bureau data for
1997, there were a total of 1,311 firms
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in this category, total, that had operated
for the entire year. Of this total, 1,180
firms had annual receipts of under $10
million and an additional 52 firms had
receipts of $10 million or more but less
than $25 million. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that the majority
of providers in this service category are
small businesses that may be affected by
the rules and policies adopted herein.
48. Internet Service Providers. The
SBA has developed a small business
size standard for Internet Service
Providers (ISPs). ISPs ‘‘provide clients
access to the Internet and generally
provide related services such as web
hosting, web page designing, and
hardware or software consulting related
to Internet connectivity.’’ Under the
SBA size standard, such a business is
small if it has average annual receipts of
$21 million or less. According to Census
Bureau data for 1997, there were 2,751
firms in this category that operated for
the entire year. Of these, 2,659 firms had
annual receipts of under $10 million,
and an additional 67 firms had receipts
of between $10 million and $24,
999,999. Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of these firms
are small entities that may be affected
by its action.
49. All Other Information Services.
This industry comprises establishments
primarily engaged in providing other
information services (except new
syndicates and libraries and archives).’’
The Commission notes that, in this
FNPRM, it has described activities such
as email, online gaming, web browsing,
video conferencing, instant messaging,
and other, similar IP-enabled services.
The SBA has developed a small
business size standard for this category;
that size standard is $6 million or less
in average annual receipts. According to
Census Bureau data for 1997, there were
195 firms in this category that operated
for the entire year. Of these, 172 had
annual receipts of under $5 million, and
an additional nine firms had receipts of
between $5 million and $9,999,999.
Consequently, the Commission
estimates that the majority of these firms
are small entities that may be affected
by its action.
Description of Projected Reporting,
Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements for Small Entities
50. This supplemental IRFA seeks
current and accurate monthly data on
the average number of compensable
dial-around calls per-payphone. Once
the new data is collected, the new rate
will not impose any new reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance
requirements for small entities.
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Steps Taken To Minimize Significant
Economic Impact on Small Entities, and
Significant Alternatives Considered
51. The RFA requires an agency to
describe any significant alternatives that
it has considered in reaching its
proposed approach, which may include
the following four alternatives (among
others): (1) The establishment of
differing compliance or reporting
requirements or timetables that take into
account the resources available to small
entities; (2) the clarification,
consolidation, or simplification of
compliance or reporting requirements
under the rule for small entities; (3) the
use of performance, rather than design,
standards; and (4) an exemption from
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,
for small entities.
52. In this FNPRM, the Commission
only seeks to collect current and
accurate data on the average number of
compensable dial-around calls perpayphone. Nevertheless, the
Commission seeks comments on
alternatives that will minimize any
potential burdens caused by the need to
collect current and accurate monthly
per-payphone data.
Federal Rules That May Duplicate,
Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed
Rules
53. Implementation of the rule change
the Commission is considering in this
FNPRM will require updating the
monthly per-payphone rate that will be
established once a current and accurate
average number of compensable dialaround calls is determined. The section
of the Commission’s rules that will
likely be amended is 47 CFR 64.1301.
Comment Filing Procedures
54. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and
1.419 of the Commission’s rules,
interested parties may file comments on
or before June 27, 2005, and reply
comments on or before July 25, 2005.
Comments may be filed using the
Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper
copies. Comments filed through the
ECFS can be sent as an electronic file
via the Internet to https://www.fcc.gov/
cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of
an electronic submission must be filed.
If multiple docket or rulemaking
numbers appear in the caption of the
proceeding, commenters must transmit
one electronic copy of the comments to
each docket or rulemaking number
referenced in the caption. In completing
the transmittal screen, commenters
should include their full name, U.S.
Postal Service mailing address, and the
applicable docket or rulemaking
E:\FR\FM\11MYP1.SGM
11MYP1
24748
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 90 / Wednesday, May 11, 2005 / Proposed Rules
number, in this case, WC Docket No.
03–225. Parties may also submit an
electronic comment by Internet e-mail.
To get filing instructions for e-mail
comments, commenters should send an
e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should
include the following words in the body
of the message, ‘‘get form.’’ A sample
form and directions will be sent in
reply. 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,
commenters must submit two additional
copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.
55. 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 the Commission continues to
experience delays in receiving U.S.
Postal Service mail). Parties are strongly
encouraged to file comments
electronically using the Commission’s
ECFS.
56. The Commission’s contractor,
Natek, Inc., 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 mail,
Express Mail, and Priority Mail
should be addressed to 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
57. All filings must be addressed to
the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H.
Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
Parties should also send a copy of their
filings to Victoria Goldberg, Pricing
Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, Room 5–A266, 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or
by e-mail to victoria.goldberg@fcc.gov.
Parties shall also serve one copy with
the Commission’s copy contractor, Best
Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals
II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488–5300,
or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.
58. Documents in WC Docket No. 03–
225 are available for public inspection
VerDate jul<14>2003
11:53 May 10, 2005
Jkt 205001
and copying during business hours at
the FCC Reference Information Center,
Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY–
A257, Washington, DC 20554. The
documents may also be purchased from
BCPI, telephone (202) 488–5300,
facsimile (202) 488–5563, TTY (202)
488–5562, e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com.
Ordering Clauses
59. Accordingly, it is ordered that,
pursuant to the authority contained in
sections 1–5, 7, 10, 201–05, 207–09,
214, 218–20, 225–27, 251–54, 256, 271,
303, 332, 403, 405, 502 and 503 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151–155, 157, 160,
201–05, 207–09, 214, 218–20, 225–27,
251–54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405,
502, and 503 and sections 1.1, 1.421 of
the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.1,
1.421, notice is hereby given of the
rulemaking and comment is sought on
those issues.
60. It is further ordered that the
Commission’s Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference
Information Center, shall send a copy of
this Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, including the
Supplemental Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small
Business Administration.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64
Communications common carriers,
Telecommunications, Telephone.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
Rules Changes
For the reasons discussed in the
preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR
part 64 as follows:
PART 64—MISCELLANEOUS RULES
RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS
1. The authority citation for part 64
continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 254(k); secs.
403(b)(2)(B), (c), Pub. L. 104–104, 110 Stat.
56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218, 222,
225, 226, 228, and 254(k) unless otherwise
noted.
2. Amend § 64.1301 by revising
paragraph (e) to read as follows:
§ 64.1301
Per-Payphone compensation.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) Post-intermediate access code and
subscriber 800 calls. In the absence of a
negotiated agreement to pay a different
amount, each entity listed in Appendix
C of the Fifth Order on Reconsideration
and Order on Remand in CC Docket No.
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
96–128, FCC 02–292, must pay default
compensation to payphone service
providers for access code calls and
payphone subscriber 800 calls for the
period beginning April 21, 1999, and
ending llll , in the amount listed in
Appendix C for any payphone for any
month during which per-call
compensation for that payphone for that
month is not paid by the listed entity.
A complete copy of Appendix C is
available at https://www.fcc.gov.
Effective llll , the default
compensation to be paid by each entity
shall be the amount listed in Appendix
C multiplied by ll.
[FR Doc. 05–9097 Filed 5–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 73
[DA 05–1145, MB Docket No. 04–317, RM–
11004, RM–11118]
Radio Broadcasting Services; Center,
TX and Logansport, LA
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; dismissal.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: At the request of Team
Broadcasting Company, Inc. and Charles
Crawford, the Audio Division dismisses
the two petitions for rule making
proposing the allotment of Channel
248A at Center, Texas the community’s
second local FM transmission service
(RM–11004). See 69 FR 51415, August
19, 2004. At the request of Logansport
Broadcasting, we also dismiss the
counterproposal proposing the
allotment of Channel 248A at
Logansport, Louisiana (RM–11118). A
showing of continuing interest is
required before a channel will be
allotted. It is the Commission’s policy to
refrain from making an allotment to a
community absent an expression of
interest. Therefore, we will grant the
requests to dismiss the Center, Texas
and Logansport, Louisiana petitions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon P. McDonald, Media Bureau,
(202) 418–2180.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Report
and Order, MB Docket No. 04–317,
adopted April 25, 2005, and released
April 27, 2005. The full text of this
Commission decision is available for
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC Reference
Information Center (Room CY–A257),
445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC.
E:\FR\FM\11MYP1.SGM
11MYP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24740-24748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9097]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[WC DOCKET NO. 03-225; FCC 05-71]
Request To Update Default Compensation Rate for Dial-Around Calls
From Payphones
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Further notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks current and accurate
data on the average number of compensable dial-around calls made from
payphones on a monthly basis. This average monthly data will be used to
calculate a monthly per-payphone default compensation rate, which will
apply to payphones that are not connected to Flex ANI, a call-tracking
technology.
DATES: Submit comments on or before June 27, 2005. Submit reply
comments on or before July 25, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket No. 03-225,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
Agency Web site: https://www.fcc.gov. Follow the
instructions for
[[Page 24741]]
submitting comments on our electronic Web site: https://
hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/SilverStream/Pages/edocs.html.
E-mail: Jon.Stover@fcc.gov. Include WC Docket No. 03-225
in the subject line of the message.
Fax: (202) 418-1567
Mail: Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20554.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, Office of the Secretary, c/o Natek, Inc. 236 Massachusetts
Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be
posted without change to https://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/
SilverStream/Pages/edocs.html, including any personal information
provided. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and
additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public
Participation'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/
SilverStream/Pages/edocs.html and/or Federal Communications Commission,
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Stover, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Pricing Policy Division, (202) 418-0390.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WC Docket No. 03-225, adopted
on March 10, 2005 and released on March 14, 2005. The complete text of
this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) is available for
public inspection Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Commission's Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, Room CY-
A257, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text
is also available on the Commission's Internet Site at https://www.
fcc.gov. Alternative formats are available to persons with disabilities
by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 or TTY (202) 418-7365. The
complete text of the FNPRM may be purchased from the Commission's
duplicating contractor, Best Copying and Printing, Inc., Room CY-B402,
445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 863-
2893, facsimile (202) 863-2898, or e-mail at https://www.bcpiweb.com.
Synopsis of Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
1. When the Commission initially adopted a payphone compensation
rule pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 276(b)(1)(A), many carriers lacked reliable
systems for tracking dial-around calls. In the Commission's First
Payphone Report and Order, it ordered compensation to be paid initially
on a per-phone, rather than a per-call basis. To arrive at the total
per-payphone rate, the Commission calculated that 131 dial-around calls
were placed from the average payphone per month. When this average
volume amount was multiplied by the then current per-call default rate
of $.35, the result yielded a per-phone compensation rate of $45.85 per
month.
2. Since the release of the First Payphone Report and Order,
approximately 95 percent of all payphones have been connected to Flex
ANI, a call-tracking technology that accurately tracks payphone calls
from the payphone instrument to the called party. The remaining five
per cent of payphones, which are generally located in remote and rural
geographic areas are not connected to Flex ANI. With this FNPRM, the
Commission continues to implement the requirements of 47 U.S.C. 276 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, which directs the
Commission to ``promote the widespread deployment of payphone services
to the benefit of the general public.''
3. Although the Commission recently increased the per-call rate to
$.494, it has not updated the average number of dial-around calls per
payphone since 1997. The record in this proceeding indicates that since
1998, there has been a significant decline in per-payphone call
volumes. If dial-around call volumes have followed the same trend as
overall call volumes, the data sought by this FNPRM will probably also
have significantly declined.
4. Finally, once the Commission receives the updated volumetric
data, it will calculate a new monthly per-payphone rate based on the
new data and the existing per-call rate. The new monthly rate will
ensure that all payphone service providers are ``fairly compensated''
for each and every completed intrastate and interstate call using their
payphone.
Initial Paperwork Reduction Act Analysis
5. This FNPRM contains new information collection requirements. The
Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork
burdens, invites the general public and the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to take this opportunity to comment on the information
collections contained in this FNPRM, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Public and agency comments
are due 60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register.
Comments should address: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. In
addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), we seek specific comment
on how we might ``further reduce the information collection burden for
small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.''
OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
Title: Request to Update Default Compensation Rate for WC Docket
No. 03-225 Dial-Around Calls from Payphones.
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: New collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 10.
Estimated Time Per Response: 100 hours.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1000 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Costs: 0.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Needs and Uses: We seek additional data to enable us to determine a
more accurate estimate of the average number of compensable dial-around
calls at a payphone. We urge payphone service providers (PSPs) to
provide us with current data showing the average number of compensable
dial-around calls placed at their payphones. We request that parties
submitting data provide details that will enable us to evaluate the
data and determine how to
[[Page 24742]]
use the data. Data submissions should include, if possible, details
showing how the data were gathered, how samples were selected, the
total number of payphones of each type (e.g., ``dumb'' vs. ``smart,''
regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOC) vs. independent) in the sample
and in the population from which the sample was taken, and the types of
locations represented in the sample. Attempts to gain advantage by
failing to provide us with the necessary context to evaluate their
submissions will result in their data being discounted or rejected. We
invite parties to submit information on the number of payphones that
currently are located in non-equal access areas and in areas where
small telephone companies have received a waiver of the Flex ANI
requirement, and on the average number of compensable dial-around calls
originating from such payphones.
6. In addition to filing comments with the Secretary, a copy of any
comments on the information collection(s) contained herein should be
submitted to Judith Boley Herman, Federal Communications Commission,
Room 1-C804, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554, or via the
Internet to Judith B. Herman@fcc.gov, and to Kristy L. Lalonde, OMB
Desk Officer, Room 10234 NEOB, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC
20503, or via the Internet to Kristy L. LaLonde@omb.eop.gov.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
7. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as
amended (RFA), the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact
on a substantial number of small entities by the policies and rule
proposed in the FNPRM.
8. With this FNPRM, the Commission continues its implementation of
the statutory objectives of section 276 of ensuring payphone service
providers are fairly compensation and promoting the widespread
deployment of payphones.
Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules
9. The Commission's goal in this proceeding is to ensure that all
payphone service providers are fairly compensation. Once this
proceeding is completed, all payphone operations including those not
connected to Flex ANI will be receiving fair compensation for all
completed intrastate and interstate calls made from payphones.
Legal Basis
10. The legal basis for any action that may be taken pursuant to
this FNPRM is contained in sections 1-5, 7, 10, 201-05, 207-09, 214,
218-20, 225-27, 251-54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405, 502 and 503 of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151-55, 157, 160,
201-05, 207-09, 214, 218-20, 225-27, 251-54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403,
405, 502, and 503 and sections 1.1, 1.421 of the Commission's rules, 47
CFR 1.1, 1.421.
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the
Proposed Rules Will Apply
11. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and,
where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be
affected by rules adopted herein. The RFA generally defines the term
``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms ``small
business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental
jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same
meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small Business
Act. A ``small business concern'' is one that: (1) Is independently
owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and
(3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business
Administration (SBA). 5 U.S.C. 632.
12. In this section, the Commission further describes and estimates
the number of small entity licensees and regulatees that may also be
indirectly affected by rules adopted pursuant to this FNPRM. The most
reliable source of information regarding the total numbers of certain
common carrier and related providers nationwide, as well as the number
of commercial wireless entities, appears to be the data that the
Commission publishes in its Trends in Telephone Service report. The SBA
has developed small business size standards for wireline and wireless
small businesses within the three commercial census categories of Wired
Telecommunications Carriers, Paging, and Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications. Under these categories, a business is small if it
has 1,500 or fewer employees. Below, using the above size standards and
others, the Commission discusses the total estimated numbers of small
businesses that might be affected by its actions.
13. Wired Telecommunications Carriers. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for Wired Telecommunications Carriers,
which consists of all such companies having 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 2,225 firms in
this category, total, that operated for the entire year. Of this total,
2,201 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional
24 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. Thus, under this
size standard, the majority of firms can be considered small.
14. Local Exchange Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has
developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable
to local exchange services. The closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size
standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 1,310 carriers reported that they were
incumbent local exchange service providers. Of these 1,310 carriers, an
estimated 1,025 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 285 have more than
1,500 employees. In addition, according to Commission data, 563
companies reported that they were engaged in the provision of either
competitive access provider services or competitive local exchange
carrier services. Of these 563 companies, an estimated 472 have 1,500
or fewer employees and 91 have more than 1,500 employees. In addition,
37 carriers reported that they were ``Other Local Exchange Carriers.''
Of the 37 ``Other Local Exchange Carriers,'' an estimated 36 have 1,500
or fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently,
the Commission estimates that most providers of local exchange service,
competitive local exchange service, competitive access providers, and
``Other Local Exchange Carriers'' are small entities that may be
affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
15. Interexchange Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has
developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable
to interexchange services. The closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size
standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 281 companies reported that they were
interexchange carriers. Of these 281 companies, an estimated 254 have
1,500 or fewer employees and 27 have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of
interexchange service providers are small entities that may be affected
by the rules and policies adopted herein.
16. Wired Telecommunications Carriers. The SBA has developed a
small business size standard for Wired Telecommunications Carriers,
which consists of all such companies having 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to
[[Page 24743]]
Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 2,225 firms in this category,
total, that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 2,201 firms
had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 24 firms
had employment of 1,000 employees or more. Thus, under this size
standard, the majority of firms can be considered small.
17. Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). Neither the
Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to incumbent local exchange
services. The closest applicable size standard under SBA rules is for
Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a
business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 1,337 carriers reported that they were engaged in the
provision of local exchange services. Of these 1,337 carriers, an
estimated 1,032 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 305 have more than
1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most
providers of incumbent local exchange service are small businesses that
may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
18. Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs), Competitive Access
Providers (CAPs), and ``Other Local Exchange Carriers.'' Neither the
Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small
businesses specifically applicable to providers of competitive exchange
services or to competitive access providers or to ``Other Local
Exchange Carriers,'' all of which are discrete categories under which
TRS data are collected. The closest applicable size standard under SBA
rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size
standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 609 companies reported that they were
engaged in the provision of either competitive access provider services
or competitive local exchange carrier services. Of these 609 companies,
an estimated 458 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 151 have more than
1,500 employees. In addition, 35 carriers reported that they were
``Other Local Service Providers.'' Of the 35 ``Other Local Service
Providers,'' an estimated 34 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has
more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that
most providers of competitive local exchange service, competitive
access providers, and ``Other Local Exchange Carriers'' are small
entities that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
19. Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). Neither the Commission nor the
SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically
applicable to interexchange services. The closest applicable size
standard under SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to Commission data, 261 companies reported
that their primary telecommunications service activity was the
provision of interexchange services. Of these 261 companies, an
estimated 223 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 38 have more than 1,500
employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of
interexchange service providers are small entities that may be affected
by the rules and policies adopted herein.
20. Operator Service Providers (OSPs). Neither the Commission nor
the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically
applicable to operator service providers. The closest applicable size
standard under SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to Commission data, 23 companies reported
that they were engaged in the provision of operator services. Of these
23 companies, an estimated 22 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has
more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that
the majority of operator service providers are small entities that may
be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
21. Payphone Service Providers (PSPs). Neither the Commission nor
the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically
applicable to payphone service providers. The closest applicable size
standard under SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or
fewer employees. According to Commission data, 761 companies reported
that they were engaged in the provision of payphone services. Of these
761 companies, an estimated 757 have 1,500 or fewer employees and four
have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates
that the majority of payphone service providers are small entities that
may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
22. Prepaid Calling Card Providers. The SBA has developed a size
standard for a small business within the category of Telecommunications
Resellers. Under that SBA size standard, such a business is small if it
has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 37
companies reported that they were engaged in the provision of prepaid
calling cards. Of these 37 companies, an estimated 36 have 1,500 or
fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently,
the Commission estimates that the majority of prepaid calling card
providers are small entities that may be affected by the rules and
policies adopted herein.
23. Local Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size
standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that
size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Commission data, 133 carriers have reported
that they are engaged in the provision of local resale services. Of
these, an estimated 127 have 1,500 or fewer employees and six have more
than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the
majority of local resellers are small entities that may be affected by
its action.
24. Toll Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size
standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that
size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Commission data, 625 carriers have reported
that they are engaged in the provision of toll resale services. Of
these, an estimated 590 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 35 have more
than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the
majority of toll resellers are small entities that may be affected by
its action.
25. Other Toll Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has
developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable
to ``Other Toll Carriers.'' This category includes toll carriers that
do not fall within the categories of interexchange carriers, operator
service providers, prepaid calling card providers, satellite service
carriers, or toll resellers. The closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size
standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission's data, 92 companies reported that their
primary telecommunications service activity was the provision of other
toll carriage. Of these 92 companies, an estimated 82 have 1,500 or
fewer employees and ten have more than 1,500 employees.
[[Page 24744]]
Consequently, the Commission estimates that most ``Other Toll
Carriers'' are small entities that may be affected by the rules and
policies adopted herein.
26. Paging. The SBA has developed a small business size standard
for Paging, which consists of all such firms having 1,500 or fewer
employees. According to Census Bureau data for 1997, in this category
there was a total of 1,320 firms that operated for the entire year. Of
this total, 1,303 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and
an additional seventeen firms had employment of 1,000 employees or
more. Thus, under this size standard, the majority of firms can be
considered small.
27. Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications. The SBA has
developed a small business size standard for Cellular and Other
Wireless Telecommunication, which consists of all such firms having
1,500 or fewer employees. According to Census Bureau data for 1997, in
this category there was a total of 977 firms that operated for the
entire year. Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer
employees, and an additional twelve firms had employment of 1,000
employees or more. Thus, under this size standard, the majority of
firms can be considered small.
28. Broadband Personal Communications Service. The broadband
Personal Communications Service (PCS) spectrum is divided into six
frequency blocks designated A through F, and the Commission has held
auctions for each block. The Commission defined ``small entity'' for
Blocks C and F as an entity that has average gross revenues of $40
million or less in the three previous calendar years. For Block F, an
additional classification for ``very small business'' was added and is
defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average
gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three
calendar years. These standards defining ``small entity'' in the
context of broadband PCS auctions have been approved by the SBA. No
small businesses, within the SBA-approved small business size standards
bid successfully for licenses in Blocks A and B. There were 90 winning
bidders that qualified as small entities in the Block C auctions. A
total of 93 small and very small business bidders won approximately 40
percent of the 1,479 licenses for Blocks D, E, and F. On March 23,
1999, the Commission re-auctioned 347 C, D, E, and F Block licenses.
There were 48 small business winning bidders. On January 26, 2001, the
Commission completed the auction of 422 C and F Broadband PCS licenses
in Auction No. 35. Of the 35 winning bidders in this auction, 29
qualified as ``small'' or ``very small'' businesses. Based on this
information, the Commission concludes that the number of small
broadband PCS licenses will include the 90 winning C Block bidders, the
93 qualifying bidders in the D, E, and F Block auctions, the 48 winning
bidders in the 1999 re-auction, and the 29 winning bidders in the 2001
re-auction, for a total of 260 small entity broadband PCS providers, as
defined by the SBA small business size standards and the Commission's
auction rules. The Commission notes that, as a general matter, the
number of winning bidders that qualify as small businesses at the close
of an auction does not necessarily represent the number of small
businesses currently in service. Also, the Commission does not
generally track subsequent business size unless, in the context of
assignments or transfers, unjust enrichment issues are implicated.
29. Narrowband Personal Communications Services. The Commission has
adopted a two-tiered small business size standard in the Narrowband PCS
Second Report and Order, 65 FR 35875, June 6, 2000. A ``small
business'' is an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling
interests, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of
not more than $40 million. A ``very small business'' is an entity that,
together with affiliates and controlling interests, has average gross
revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $15 million.
The SBA has approved these small business size standards. In the
future, the Commission will auction 459 licenses to serve Metropolitan
Trading Areas (MTAs) and 408 response channel licenses. There is also
one megahertz of narrowband PCS spectrum that has been held in reserve
and that the Commission has not yet decided to release for licensing.
The Commission cannot predict accurately the number of licenses that
will be awarded to small entities in future actions. However, four of
the 16 winning bidders in the two previous narrowband PCS auctions were
small businesses, as that term was defined under the Commission's
Rules. The Commission assumes, for purposes of this analysis, that a
large portion of the remaining narrowband PCS licenses will be awarded
to small entities. The Commission also assumes that at least some small
businesses will acquire narrowband PCS licenses by means of the
Commission's partitioning and disaggregation rules.
30. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase I Licensees. The 220 MHz service
has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. Phase I licensing was conducted
by lotteries in 1992 and 1993. There are approximately 1,515 such non-
nationwide licensees and four nationwide licensees currently authorized
to operate in the 220 MHz band. The Commission has not developed a
small business size standard for small entities specifically applicable
to such incumbent 220 MHz Phase I licensees. To estimate the number of
such licensees that are small businesses, the Commission applies the
small business size standard under the SBA rules applicable to
``Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications'' companies. This
standard provides that such a company is small if it employs no more
than 1,500 persons. According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there
were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire
year. Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer
employees, and an additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees
or more. If this general ratio continues in the context of Phase I 220
MHz licensees, the Commission estimates that nearly all such licensees
are small businesses under the SBA's small business size standard.
31. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase II Licensees. The 220 MHz service
has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. The Phase II 220 MHz service is
a new service, and is subject to spectrum auctions. In the 220 MHz
Third Report and Order, 62 FR 15978, April 3, 1997, the Commission
adopted a small business size standard for ``small'' and ``very small''
businesses for purposes of determining their eligibility for special
provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. This small
business size standard indicates that a ``small business'' is an entity
that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has
average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding
three years. A ``very small business'' is an entity that, together with
its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues
that do not exceed $3 million for the preceding three years. The SBA
has approved these small business size standards. Auctions of Phase II
licenses commenced on September 15, 1998, and closed on October 22,
1998. In the first auction, 908 licenses were auctioned in three
different-sized geographic areas: three nationwide licenses, 30
Regional Economic Area Group (EAG) Licenses, and 875 Economic Area (EA)
Licenses. Of the 908 licenses auctioned, 693 were sold. Thirty-nine
small businesses won
[[Page 24745]]
licenses in the first 220 MHz auction. The second auction included 225
licenses: 216 EA licenses and 9 EAG licenses. Fourteen companies
claiming small business status won 158 licenses.
32. 800 MHz and 900 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Licenses. The
Commission awards ``small entity'' and ``very small entity'' bidding
credits in auctions for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) geographic area
licenses in the 900 MHz bands to firms that had revenues of no more
than $15 million in each of the three previous calendar years, or that
had revenues of no more than $3 million in each of the previous
calendar years. The SBA has approved these size standards. The
Commission awards ``small entity'' and ``very small entity'' bidding
credits in auctions for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) geographic area
licenses in the 800 MHz bands to firms that had revenues of no more
than $40 million in each of the three previous calendar years, or that
had revenues of no more than $15 million in each of the previous
calendar years. These bidding credits apply to SMR providers in the 800
MHz and 900 MHz bands that either hold geographic area licenses or have
obtained extended implementation authorizations. The Commission does
not know how many firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz geographic area SMR
service pursuant to extended implementation authorizations, nor how
many of these providers have annual revenues of no more than $15
million. One firm has over $15 million in revenues. The Commission
assumes, for purposes here, that all of the remaining existing extended
implementation authorizations are held by small entities, as that term
is defined by the SBA. The Commission has held auctions for geographic
area licenses in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz SMR bands. There were 60
winning bidders that qualified as small or very small entities in the
900 MHz SMR auctions. Of the 1,020 licenses won in the 900 MHz auction,
bidders qualifying as small or very small entities won 263 licenses. In
the 800 MHz auction, 38 of the 524 licenses won were won by small and
very small entities. The Commission notes that, as a general matter,
the number of winning bidders that qualify as small businesses at the
close of an auction does not necessarily represent the number of small
businesses currently in service. Also, the Commission does not
generally track subsequent business size unless, in the context of
assignments or transfers, unjust enrichment issues are implicated.
33. Private and Common Carrier Paging. In the Paging Third Report
and Order, 62 FR 16004, April 3, 1997, the Commission developed a small
business size standard for ``small businesses'' and ``very small
businesses'' for purposes of determining their eligibility for special
provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. A ``small
business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and
controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15
million for the preceding three years. Additionally, a ``very small
business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and
controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more
than $3 million for the preceding three years. The SBA has approved
these size standards. An auction of Metropolitan Economic Area licenses
commenced on February 24, 2000, and closed on March 2, 2000. Of the 985
licenses auctioned, 440 were sold. Fifty-seven companies claiming small
business status won. At present, there are approximately 24,000
Private-Paging site-specific licenses and 74,000 Common Carrier Paging
licenses. According to the most recent Trends in Telephone Service, 471
carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either
paging and messaging services or other mobile services. Of those, the
Commission estimates that 450 are small, under the SBA business size
standard specifying that firms are small if they have 1,500 or fewer
employees.
34. 700 MHz Guard Band Licensees. In the 700 MHz Guard Band Order,
65 FR 3139, January 20, 2000, the Commission adopted a small business
size standard for ``small businesses'' and ``very small businesses''
for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions
such as bidding credits and installment payments. A ``small business''
as an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling
principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for
the preceding three years. Additionally, a ``very small business'' is
an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling
principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $3
million for the preceding three years. An auction of 52 Major Economic
Area (MEA) licenses commenced on September 6, 2000, and closed on
September 21, 2000. Of the 104 licenses auctioned, 96 licenses were
sold to nine bidders. Five of these bidders were small businesses that
won a total of 26 licenses. A second auction of 700 MHz Guard Band
licenses commenced on February 13, 2001 and closed on February 21,
2001. All eight of the licenses auctioned were sold to three bidders.
One of these bidders was a small business that won a total of two
licenses.
35. Rural Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a
size standard for small businesses specific to the Rural Radiotelephone
Service. A significant subset of the Rural Radiotelephone Service is
the Basic Exchange Telephone Radio System (BETRS). The Commission uses
the SBA's small business size standard applicable to ``Cellular and
Other Wireless Telecommunications,'' i.e., an entity employing no more
than 1,500 persons. There are approximately 1,000 licensees in the
Rural Radiotelephone Service, and the Commission estimates that there
are 1,000 or fewer small entity licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone
Service that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
36. Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not
adopted a small business size standard specific to the Air-Ground
Radiotelephone Service. The Commission will use SBA's small business
size standard applicable to ``Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications,'' i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500
persons. There are approximately 100 licensees in the Air-Ground
Radiotelephone Service, and the Commission estimates that almost all of
them qualify as small under the SBA small business size standard.
37. Aviation and Marine Radio Services. Small businesses in the
aviation and marine radio services use a very high frequency (VHF)
marine or aircraft radio and, as appropriate, an emergency position-
indicating radio beacon (and/or radar) or an emergency locator
transmitter. The Commission has not developed a small business size
standard specifically applicable to these small businesses. For
purposes of this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business
size standard for the category ``Cellular and Other
Telecommunications,'' which is 1,500 or fewer employees. Most
applicants for recreational licenses are individuals. Approximately
581,000 ship station licensees and 131,000 aircraft station licensees
operate domestically and are not subject to the radio carriage
requirements of any statute or treaty. For purposes of evaluations in
this analysis, the Commission estimates that there are up to
approximately 712,000 licensees that are small businesses (or
individuals) under the SBA standard. In addition, between December 3,
1998 and December 14, 1998, the Commission held an auction of 42 VHF
Public Coast licenses in the 157.1875-157.4500 MHz (ship transmit) and
[[Page 24746]]
161.775-162.0125 MHz (coast transmit) bands. For purposes of the
auction, the Commission defined a ``small'' business as an entity that,
together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross
revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $15 million. In
addition, a ``very small'' business is one that, together with
controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for
the preceding three years not to exceed $3 million. There are
approximately 10,672 licensees in the Marine Coast Service, and the
Commission estimates that almost all of them qualify as ``small''
businesses under the above special small business size standards.
38. Fixed Microwave Services. Fixed microwave services include
common carrier, private operational-fixed, and broadcast auxiliary
radio services. At present, there are approximately 22,015 common
carrier fixed licensees and 61,670 private operational-fixed licensees
and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services. The
Commission has not created a size standard for a small business
specifically with respect to fixed microwave services. For purposes of
this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard
for the category ``Cellular and Other Telecommunications,'' which is
1,500 or fewer employees. The Commission does not have data specifying
the number of these licensees that have more than 1,500 employees, and
thus is unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the
number of fixed microwave service licensees that would qualify as small
business concerns under the SBA's small business size standard.
Consequently, the Commission estimates that there are up to 22,015
common carrier fixed licensees and up to 61,670 private operational-
fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the
microwave services that may be small and may be affected by the rules
and policies adopted herein. The Commission noted, however, that the
common carrier microwave fixed licensee category includes some large
entities.
39. Offshore Radiotelephone Service. This service operates on
several UHF television broadcast channels that are not used for
television broadcasting in the coastal areas of states bordering the
Gulf of Mexico. There are presently approximately 55 licensees in this
service. The Commission is unable to estimate at this time the number
of licensees that would qualify as small under the SBA's small business
size standard for ``Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications''
services. Under that SBA small business size standard, a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
40. Wireless Communications Services. This service can be used for
fixed, mobile, radiolocation, and digital audio broadcasting satellite
uses. The Commission established small business size standards for the
wireless communications services (WCS) auction. A ``small business'' is
an entity with average gross revenues of $40 million for each of the
three preceding years, and a ``very small business'' is an entity with
average gross revenues of $15 million for each of the three preceding
years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. The
Commission auctioned geographic area licenses in the WCS service. In
the auction, there were seven winning bidders that qualified as ``very
small business'' entities, and one that qualified as a ``small
business'' entity. The Commission concludes that the number of
geographic area WCS licensees affected by this analysis includes these
eight entities.
41. 39 GHz Service. The Commission created a special small business
size standard for 39 GHz licenses--an entity that has average gross
revenues of $40 million or less in the three previous calendar years.
An additional size standard for ``very small business'' is: An entity
that, together with affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more
than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. The SBA has
approved these small business size standards. The auction of the 2,173
39 GHz licenses began on April 12, 2000 and closed on May 8, 2000. The
18 bidders who claimed small business status won 849 licenses.
Consequently, the Commission estimates that 18 or fewer 39 GHz
licensees are small entities that may be affected by the rules and
policies adopted herein.
42. Local Multipoint Distribution Service. Local Multipoint
Distribution Service (LMDS) is a fixed broadband point-to-multipoint
microwave service that provides for two-way video telecommunications.
The auction of the 1,030 Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS)
licenses began on February 18, 1998 and closed on March 25, 1998. The
Commission established a small business size standard for LMDS licenses
as an entity that has average gross revenues of less than $40 million
in the three previous calendar years. An additional small business size
standard for ``very small business'' was added as an entity that,
together with its affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more
than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. The SBA has
approved these small business size standards in the context of LMDS
auctions. There were 93 winning bidders that qualified as small
entities in the LMDS auctions. A total of 93 small and very small
business bidders won approximately 277 A Block licenses and 387 B Block
licenses. On March 27, 1999, the Commission re-auctioned 161 licenses;
there were 40 winning bidders. Based on this information, the
Commission concluded that the number of small LMDS licenses consists of
the 93 winning bidders in the first auction and the 40 winning bidders
in the re-auction, for a total of 133 small entity LMDS providers.
43. 218-219 MHz Service. The first auction of 218-219 MHz spectrum
resulted in 170 entities winning licenses for 594 Metropolitan
Statistical Area licenses. Of the 594 licenses, 557 were won by
entities qualifying as a small business. For that auction, the small
business size standard was an entity that, together with its
affiliates, has no more than a $6 million net worth and, after federal
income taxes (excluding any carry over losses), has no more than $2
million in annual profits each year for the previous two years. In the
218-219 MHz Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 64 FR
59656, November 3, 1999, the Commission established a small business
size standard for a ``small business'' as an entity that, together with
its affiliates and persons or entities that hold interests in such an
entity and their affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not to
exceed $15 million for the preceding three years. A ``very small
business'' is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates
and persons or entities that hold interests in such an entity and its
affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not to exceed $3 million
for the preceding three years. The SBA has approved these size
standards. The Commission cannot estimate, however, the number of
licenses that will be won by entities qualifying as small or very small
businesses under its rules in future auctions of 218-219 MHz spectrum.
44. 24 GHz--Incumbent Licensees. This analysis may affect incumbent
licensees who were relocated to the 24 GHz band from the 18 GHz band,
and applicants who wish to provide services in the 24 GHz band. The
applicable SBA small business size standard is that of ``Cellular and
Other Wireless Telecommunications'' companies. This category provides
that such a company is small if it employs no more than 1,500 persons.
According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 977
[[Page 24747]]
firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of this
total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an
additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. Thus,
under this size standard, the great majority of firms can be considered
small. These broader census data notwithstanding, the Commission
believes that there are only two licensees in the 24 GHz band that were
relocated from the 18 GHz band, Teligent and TRW, Inc. It is the
Commission's understanding that Teligent and its related companies have
less than 1,500 employees, though this may change in the future. TRW is
not a small entity. Thus, only one incumbent licensee in the 24 GHz
band is a small business entity.
45. 24 GHz--Future Licensees. With respect to new applicants in the
24 GHz band, the small business size standard for ``small business'' is
an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has
average annual gross revenues for the three preceding years not in
excess of $15 million. ``Very small business'' in the 24 GHz band is an
entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has
average gross revenues not exceeding $3 million for the preceding three
years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. These
size standards will apply to the future auction, if held.
46. Satellite Service Carriers. The SBA has developed a size
standard for small businesses within the category of Satellite
Telecommunications. Under that SBA size standard, such a business is
small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data,
31 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of
satellite services. Of these 31 carriers, an estimated 25 have 1,500 or
fewer employees and six, alone or in combination with affiliates, have
more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that
there are 31 or fewer satellite service carriers which are small
businesses that may be affected by the rules and policies proposed
herein.
47. Cable and Other Program Distribution. This category includes
cable systems operators, closed circuit television services, direct
broadcast satellite services, multipoint distribution systems,
satellite master antenna systems, and subscription television services.
The SBA has developed small business size standard for this census
category, which includes all such companies generating $12.5 million or
less in revenue annually. According to Census Bureau data for 1997,
there were a total of 1,311 firms in this category, total, that had
operated for the entire year. Of this total, 1,180 firms had annual
receipts of under $10 million and an additional 52 firms had receipts
of $10 million or more but less than $25 million. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that the majority of providers in this service
category are small businesses that may be affected by the rules and
policies adopted herein.
48. Internet Service Providers. The SBA has developed a small
business size standard for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs
``provide clients access to the Internet and generally provide related
services such as web hosting, web page designing, and hardware or
software consulting related to Internet connectivity.'' Under the SBA
size standard, such a business is small if it has average annual
receipts of $21 million or less. According to Census Bureau data for
1997, there were 2,751 firms in this category that operated for the
entire year. Of these, 2,659 firms had annual receipts of under $10
million, and an additional 67 firms had receipts of between $10 million
and $24, 999,999. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the
majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by its
action.
49. All Other Information Services. This industry comprises
establishments primarily engaged in providing other information
services (except new syndicates and libraries and archives).'' The
Commission notes that, in this FNPRM, it has described activities such
as email, online gaming, web browsing, video conferencing, instant
messaging, and other, similar IP-enabled services. The SBA has
developed a small business size standard for this category; that size
standard is $6 million or less in average annual receipts. According to
Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 195 firms in this category that
operated for the entire year. Of these, 172 had annual receipts of
under $5 million, and an additional nine firms had receipts of between
$5 million and $9,999,999. Consequently, the Commission estimates that
the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by
its action.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance
Requirements for Small Entities
50. This supplemental IRFA seeks current and accurate monthly data
on the average number of compensable dial-around calls per-payphone.
Once the new data is collected, the new rate will not impose any new
reporting, recordkeeping or other compliance requirements for small
entities.
Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities,
and Significant Alternatives Considered
51. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant
alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach,
which may include the following four alternatives (among others): (1)
The establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or
timetables that take into account the resources available to small
entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of
compliance or reporting requirements under the rule for small entities;
(3) the use of performance, rather than design, standards; and (4) an
exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small
entities.
52. In this FNPRM, the Commission only seeks to collect current and
accurate data on the average number of compensable dial-around calls
per-payphone. Nevertheless, the Commission seeks comments on
alternatives that will minimize any potential burdens caused by the
need to collect current and accurate monthly per-payphone data.
Federal Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the
Proposed Rules
53. Implementation of the rule change the Commission is considering
in this FNPRM will require updating the monthly per-payphone rate that
will be established once a current and accurate average number of
compensable dial-around calls is determined. The section of the
Commission's rules that will likely be amended is 47 CFR 64.1301.
Comment Filing Procedures
54. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
interested parties may file comments on or before June 27, 2005, and
reply comments on or before July 25, 2005. Comments may be filed using
the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing
paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If
multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of the
proceeding, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the
comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption.
In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their
full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable
docket or rulemaking
[[Page 24748]]
number, in this case, WC Docket No. 03-225. Parties may also submit an
electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for
e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and
should include the following words in the body of the message, ``get
form.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. 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, commenters must submit two additional
copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
55. 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 the Commission continues to experience
delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). Parties are strongly
encouraged to file comments electronically using the Commission's ECFS.
56. The Commission's contractor, Natek, Inc., 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 mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail
should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
57. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary,
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Parties should
also send a copy of their filings to Victoria Goldberg, Pricing Policy
Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, Room 5-A266, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or
by e-mail to victoria.goldberg@fcc.gov. Parties shall also serve one
copy with the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing,
Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.
58. Documents in WC Docket No. 03-225 are available for public
inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY-A257,
Washington, DC 20554. The documents may also be purchased from BCPI,
telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562,
e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com.
Ordering Clauses
59. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to the authority
contained in sections 1-5, 7, 10, 201-05, 207-09, 214, 218-20, 225-27,
251-54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405, 502 and 503 of the Communications
Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151-155, 157, 160, 201-05, 207-09,
214, 218-20, 225-27, 251-54, 256, 271, 303, 332, 403, 405, 502, and 503
and sections 1.1, 1.421 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1, 1.421,
notice is hereby given of the rulemaking and comment is sought on those
issues.
60. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a
copy of this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including the
Supplemental Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64
Communications common carriers, Telecommunications, Telephone.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
Rules Changes
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR part 64 as follows:
PART 64--MISCELLANEOUS RULES RELATING TO COMMON CARRIERS
1. The authority citation for part 64 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 254(k); secs. 403(b)(2)(B), (c), Pub.
L. 104-104, 110 Stat. 56. Interpret or apply 47 U.S.C. 201, 218,
222, 225, 226, 228, and 254(k) unless otherwise noted.
2. Amend Sec. 64.1301 by revising paragraph (e) to read as
follows:
Sec. 64.1301 Per-Payphone compensation.
* * * * *
(e) Post-intermediate access code and subscriber 800 calls. In the
absence of a negotiated agreement to pay a different amount, each
entity listed in Appendix C of the Fifth Order on Reconsideration and
Order on Remand in CC Docket No. 96-128, FCC 02-292, must pay default
compensation to payphone service providers for access code calls and
payphone subscriber 800 calls for the period beginning April 21, 1999,
and ending -------- , in the amount listed in Appendix C for any
payphone for any month during which per-call compensation for that
payphone for that month is not paid by the listed entity. A complete
copy of Appendix C is available at https://www.fcc.gov. Effective ------
-- , the default compensation to be paid by each entity shall be the
amount listed in Appendix C multiplied by ----.
[FR Doc. 05-9097 Filed 5-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P