Rules and Regulations Implementing the Minimum Customer Account Record Exchange Obligations on All Local and Interexchange Carriers, 53137-53139 [05-17704]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Proposed Rules
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peggy Reitzel or Francis Gutierrez,
Policy Division, International Bureau,
(202) 418–1460.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Commission’s Notice of
Inquiry in IB Docket No. 05–254, FCC
05–152, which was adopted on August
5, 2005. The full text of this
Commission decision is available for
inspection and copying during normal
business hours in the FCC Reference
Center (Room CY–A257), 445 12th
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The
document may also be downloaded
from the Commission’s Web site at
https://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/
attachmatch/FCC–05–152A1.doc. The
complete text may also be purchased
from the Commission’s copy contractor,
Best Copy and Printing, Inc., in person
at 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20554, via telephone at
(202) 488–5300, via facsimile at (202)
488–5563, or via e-mail at
FCC@BCPIWEB.COM.
Summary of the Notice of Inquiry
On August 5, 2005, the Commission
adopted a Notice of Inquiry on
Modifying the Commission’s Process to
Avert Harm to U.S. Competition and
U.S. Customers Caused by
Anticompetitive Conduct. By this
Notice of Inquiry, the Commission seeks
to develop a record on ways to improve
the process available to the Commission
to protect U.S. consumers from the
effect of anticompetitive conduct by
foreign carriers and on alternative
approaches the Commission may take to
avert circuit disruptions or blockages.
In particular, this Notice of Inquiry
seeks comment on the following issues:
(1) What constitutes a circuit disruption
or blockage that would trigger possible
Commission action; (2) what should be
the appropriate length of the pleading
cycle associated with any action the
Commission may take in response to
reports of anticompetitive behavior on
the part of foreign carriers; (3) whether
the Commission should propose
procedures for taking interim measures
when U.S. carriers notify the
Commission that foreign carriers have
threatened to disrupt circuits; (4) how
should the Commission assess the
immediacy of such threats, and how
should it coordinate any action with the
appropriate U.S. government agencies;
(5) what showing is required of U.S.
carriers to demonstrate that the public
interest will be served by Commission
intervention, and what is the
appropriate form of relief; (6) whether
U.S. carriers are passing through
settlement rate reductions to U.S.
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15:04 Sep 06, 2005
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consumers; and (7) whether it is
appropriate for U.S. ratepayers to
subsidize universal service in other
countries.
The Commission encourages all
interested parties to respond to the
questions and requests set forth in the
Notice of Inquiry.
Ordering Clauses
Pursuant to the authority contained in
47 U.S.C. 151, 4(i), 201–205, 208, 211,
303(r), 403 this Notice of Inquiry is
adopted.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05–17795 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket No. 02–386; DA 05–2266]
Rules and Regulations Implementing
the Minimum Customer Account
Record Exchange Obligations on All
Local and Interexchange Carriers
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In this document, the
Commission seeks comment on
proposed modifications/clarifications to
rules governing the exchange of
customer account information between
local and long distance carriers.
DATES: Comments are due on or before
September 22, 2005, and reply
comments are due on or before October
3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by CG 02–386, DA 05–2266
by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications
Commission’s Web site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• People with Disabilities: Contact
the FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432.
For detailed instructions for
submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process,
see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section of this document.
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53137
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kelli Farmer, Consumer Policy Division,
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau, (202) 418–2512 (voice),
Kelli.Farmer@fcc.gov.
This is a
summary of the Commission’s
document, DA 05–2266, released
August 9, 2005. The full text of this
document and copies of any
subsequently filed documents in this
matter will be available for public
inspection and copying during regular
business hours at the FCC Reference
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY–A257,
Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418–0270.
This document may be purchased from
the Commission’s duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing
(BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street,
SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC
20554. Customers may contact BCPI,
Inc. at their Web site: https://
www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1–800–
378–3160.
To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files,
audio format) send an e-mail to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530 (voice) or (202) 418–0432
(TTY). This document can also be
downloaded in Word or Portable
Document Format (PDF) at https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy.
When filing comments, please
reference CG Docket No. 02–386, DA
05–2266. Comments may be filed using
the Commission’s Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper
copies. See Electronic Filing of
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
63 FR 24121, May 1, 1998. Comments
filed through the ECFS can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to
https://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html.
Generally, only one copy of an
electronic submission must be filed. In
completing the transmittal screen,
commenters should include their full
name, U.S. Postal Service mailing
address, and the applicable docket or
rulemaking number. Parties may also
submit an electronic comment by
Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions
for e-mail comments, commenters
should send 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 send an original and four (4)
copies of each filing. Filings can be sent
by hand or messenger delivery, by
electronic media, by commercial
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM
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53138
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Proposed Rules
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). The Commission’s
contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive
hand-delivered or messenger-delivered
paper filings or electronic media 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 and
electronic media sent by 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. All filings must be addressed to
the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H.
Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street, SW., Room TW–B204,
Washington, DC 20554. This proceeding
shall be treated as a ‘‘permit but
disclose’’ proceeding in accordance
with the Commission’s ex parte rules,
47 CFR 1.1200. Persons making oral ex
parte presentations are reminded that
memoranda summarizing the
presentations must contain summaries
of the substances of the presentations
and not merely a listing of the subjects
discussed. More than a one or two
sentence description of the views and
arguments presented is generally
required. See 47 CFR 1.1206(b). Other
rules pertaining to oral and written ex
parte presentations in permit-butdisclose proceedings are set forth in
section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s
rules, 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
Synopsis
On February 25, 2005, the
Commission adopted mandatory,
minimum standards governing the
exchange of customer account
information between local exchange
carriers (LECs) and interexchange
carriers (IXCs). In adopting these
mandatory, minimum standards, the
Commission relied in large measure on
a compromise proposal that was filed
with the Commission by a coalition of
IXCs and LECs, including
representatives of AT&T, MCI, Sprint,
BellSouth, Qwest, SBC, and Verizon
(Coalition).
On April 15, 2005, and June 15, 2005,
the Coalition proposed modifications
and clarifications to the Order (final
rules published at 70 FR 32258, June 2,
VerDate Aug<18>2005
15:04 Sep 06, 2005
Jkt 205001
2005). In particular, the Coalition
identified certain aspects of section
64.4002 of the Commission’s rules that,
in its view, should be clarified and/or
modified by the Commission ‘‘in the
interest of clarity and completeness.’’
The Coalition’s proposed clarifications
and modifications to section 64.4002 are
described immediately below:
• Among the categories of
information that LECs must provide to
IXCs in certain identified situations,
section 64.4002(a)(6), (b)(6), (d)(5) and
(f)(5) currently include the ‘‘carrier
identification code of the submitting
LEC.’’ The Coalition suggests that this
phrase should be modified to state
‘‘carrier identification code of the IXC.’’
According to the Coalition, this
‘‘mirroring’’ of information back to the
IXC by the LEC serves as a kind of
‘‘handshake’’ and is needed to confirm
that the LEC has properly identified the
intended recipient of a particular
notification.
• The Coalition asks the Commission
to modify section 64.4002(d). In
particular, it proposes that a LEC that
has received a notification from an IXC
indicating that the IXC’s customer no
longer wishes to be presubscribed to any
IXC (customer has selected ‘‘no-PIC’’
status) be required to respond to the IXC
with a confirmation or reject
notification. As proposed by the
Coalition, section 64.4002(d) would
read in pertinent part:
(d) Customer contacts LEC or new IXC
to change PIC, or current IXC to select
no-PIC. When a LEC has removed at its
local switch a presubscribed customer
from an IXC’s network, in response to a
customer order, upon receipt of a
properly verified PIC order submitted by
another IXC, or upon receipt of the
current IXC’s request to change the PIC
to no-PIC, the LEC must notify the
customer’s former IXC of this event.
• The Coalition proposes
modifications to section 64.4002(e) and
(g) to make those subsections consistent
with other notification obligations of
LECs adopted in the Order. First, it asks
the Commission to modify section
64.4002(e) to include the effective date
of a change to a customer’s local service
account as well as the carrier
identification code of the IXC. Second,
the Coalition asks the Commission to
modify subsection (g) to include the
customer’s billing telephone number,
working telephone, and billing name
and address; the effective date of the
change of local service provider; a
description of the customer type (i.e.,
business or residential); the
jurisdictional scope of the lines or
terminals affected (i.e., intraLATA and/
or interLATA and/or international); and
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
the carrier identification code of the
IXC.
• The Coalition suggests an
additional clarification to section
64.4002(g) whereby the Commission
would insert the phrase ‘‘in LEC’’ and
remove the word ‘‘new’’ as specified in
the bracketed portions of the following
sentence: ‘‘If the customer also makes a
PIC change, the customer’s former LEC
must notify the customer’s former PIC(s)
of the change [in LEC] and the new LEC
must notify the customer’s [new] PIC of
the customer’s PIC selection.’’
Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Certification
The Regulatory Flexibility Act
requires that an initial regulatory
flexibility analysis be prepared for
notice and comment rulemaking
proceedings, unless the agency certifies
that ‘‘the rule will not, if promulgated,
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.’’
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
which: (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).
On March 25, 2004, the Commission
released a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking public
comment on whether the Commission
should establish mandatory, minimum
standards governing the exchange of
customer account information between
local exchange carriers and
interexchange carriers. As required by
the RFA, the Commission incorporated
into the NPRM an Initial Regulatory
Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) and sought
public comment on the specific issues
raised in the IRFA. Two entities filed
comments addressing the IRFA. On
February 25, 2005, the Commission
adopted the Order which, as discussed
above, established extensive and
detailed standards governing the
exchange of customer account
information between local exchange
carriers and interexchange carriers.
Consistent with the RFA, the
Commission incorporated into the Order
a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) addressing, among other things,
the comments that had been filed in
response to the IRFA.
In this document, the Commission
seeks comment on the Coalition’s
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2005 / Proposed Rules
proposed clarifications and
modifications to § 64.4002 of the
Commission’s rules. The proposed
clarifications and modifications are in
the nature of technical corrections to the
Commission’s customer account record
exchange rules that, if adopted, would
not have a significant economic impact
on entities subject to those rules. For
example, the Coalition asserts that its
proposed modification to § 64.4002(d)
would make this provision consistent
with similar notification requirements
adopted in the Order simply by
requiring a LEC to confirm its receipt of
a particular IXC-initiated notification
with an appropriate response. The
Coalition similarly proposes
modifications to §§ 64.4002(e) and (g) to
include within the information
exchanges prescribed by those
subsections, the same standard
categories of information that carriers
routinely must provide in connection
with other notification obligations
adopted in the Order. If the Commission
were to adopt the proposed
modifications and clarifications, we
believe that the compliance burden, and
resulting economic impact on entities
subject thereto, would be de minimus.
Therefore, the Commission certifies for
purposes of the RFA that the proposals
in this document, if adopted, will not
have a significant economic impact on
a substantial number of small entities.
The Commission will send a copy of
this document, including a copy of this
Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Certification, to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the SBA. This initial
certification will also be published in
the Federal Register.
Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05–17704 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
change the community of license for
Station KQQK(FM), Channel 300C, from
Beaumont to Dayton, Texas, and
terminates this rulemaking proceeding.
See 65 FR 4401, January 27, 2000. The
withdrawal of the rulemaking petition
complies with Section 1.420(j) of the
Commission’s rules. See also
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew J. Rhodes, Media Bureau, (202)
418–2180.
This is a
synopsis of the Commission’s Report
and Order, MM Docket No. 00–9,
adopted August 17, 2005, and released
August 19, 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.
The complete text of this decision may
also be purchased from the
Commission’s copy contractor, Best
Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445
12th Street, SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20054, telephone
1–800–378–3160 or https://
www.BCPIWEB.com. This document is
not subject to the Congressional Review
Act. (The Commission, is, therefore, not
required to submit a copy of this Report
and Order to GAO, pursuant to the
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A) because the proposed rule
was dismissed.
A continuing interest is required
before a channel will be allotted.
Because the rulemaking petition and the
expression of interest in the proposed
allotment at Dayton have been
withdrawn, no allotment at Dayton or
change of community of license will be
made.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73
Radio, Radio broadcasting.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Federal Communications Commission.
John A. Karousos,
Assistant Chief, Audio Division, Media
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05–17521 Filed 9–6–05; 8:45 am]
47 CFR Part 73
[DA 05–2300, MM Docket No. 00–9, RM–
9526]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
Radio Broadcasting Services;
Beaumont and Dayton, TX
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; dismissal.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: At the request of Liberman
Broadcasting of Houston License Corp.,
the Audio Division dismisses a
rulemaking petition to reallot and
VerDate Aug<18>2005
15:04 Sep 06, 2005
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53139
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
RIN 1018–AU22; 1018–AI48
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Proposed Rule To Remove
the Arizona Distinct Population
Segment of the Cactus Ferruginous
Pygmy-owl From the Federal List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife;
Proposal To Withdraw the Proposed
Rule To Designate Critical Habitat
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public
hearing.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce
that we will hold a public hearing (see
DATES and ADDRESSES sections) on our
proposed rule to remove the Arizona
distinct population segment (DPS) of the
cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl
(Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum)
(pygmy-owl) from the Federal List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife,
eliminate its currently designated
critical habitat, and to withdraw its
proposed new critical habitat. This
public hearing will allow all interested
parties an opportunity to comment on
our proposed actions.
DATES: Comments must be submitted
directly to the Service (see ADDRESSES)
on or before October 3, 2005, or at the
public hearing. Any comments received
after the closing date may not be
considered in the final determination on
the proposal.
We will hold a public hearing on
September 20, 2005, from 6:30 p.m. to
9 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Public Hearing. The public
hearing will be held in Tuscon, Arizona,
at the Tucson Convention Center,
Apache—Greenlee meeting rooms, 260
South Church Avenue, Tuscon, AZ
85710.
Comments. If you wish to provide
comments/and or information, you may
submit your comments and materials by
any one of several methods:
1. You may submit written comments
and information by mail or handdelivery to the Field Supervisor,
Arizona Ecological Services Field
Office, 2321 W. Royal Palm Road, Suite
103, Phoenix, Arizona 85021.
2. Written comments may be sent by
facsimile to (602) 242–2513.
3. You may send your comments by
electronic mail (e-mail) to:
cfpo_comments@fws.gov.
E:\FR\FM\07SEP1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53137-53139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17704]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[CG Docket No. 02-386; DA 05-2266]
Rules and Regulations Implementing the Minimum Customer Account
Record Exchange Obligations on All Local and Interexchange Carriers
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comment on proposed
modifications/clarifications to rules governing the exchange of
customer account information between local and long distance carriers.
DATES: Comments are due on or before September 22, 2005, and reply
comments are due on or before October 3, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by CG 02-386, DA 05-2266
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web site: https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelli Farmer, Consumer Policy
Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, (202) 418-2512
(voice), Kelli.Farmer@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
document, DA 05-2266, released August 9, 2005. The full text of this
document and copies of any subsequently filed documents in this matter
will be available for public inspection and copying during regular
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445
12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270.
This document may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing (BCPI), Inc., Portals II, 445 12th
Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. Customers may contact
BCPI, Inc. at their Web site: https://www.bcpiweb.com or by calling 1-
800-378-3160.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format)
send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This
document can also be downloaded in Word or Portable Document Format
(PDF) at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy.
When filing comments, please reference CG Docket No. 02-386, DA 05-
2266. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, May 1, 1998.
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via
the Internet to https://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html. Generally, only
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S.
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-
mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should
send 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 send an original and four
(4) copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger
delivery, by electronic media, by commercial
[[Page 53138]]
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). The Commission's contractor,
Natek, Inc., will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper
filings or electronic media 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 and electronic
media sent by 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. All filings must be addressed to the
Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Room TW-B204,
Washington, DC 20554. This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit
but disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte
rules, 47 CFR 1.1200. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are
reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain
summaries of the substances of the presentations and not merely a
listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence
description of the views and arguments presented is generally required.
See 47 CFR 1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex
parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in
section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
Synopsis
On February 25, 2005, the Commission adopted mandatory, minimum
standards governing the exchange of customer account information
between local exchange carriers (LECs) and interexchange carriers
(IXCs). In adopting these mandatory, minimum standards, the Commission
relied in large measure on a compromise proposal that was filed with
the Commission by a coalition of IXCs and LECs, including
representatives of AT&T, MCI, Sprint, BellSouth, Qwest, SBC, and
Verizon (Coalition).
On April 15, 2005, and June 15, 2005, the Coalition proposed
modifications and clarifications to the Order (final rules published at
70 FR 32258, June 2, 2005). In particular, the Coalition identified
certain aspects of section 64.4002 of the Commission's rules that, in
its view, should be clarified and/or modified by the Commission ``in
the interest of clarity and completeness.'' The Coalition's proposed
clarifications and modifications to section 64.4002 are described
immediately below:
Among the categories of information that LECs must provide
to IXCs in certain identified situations, section 64.4002(a)(6),
(b)(6), (d)(5) and (f)(5) currently include the ``carrier
identification code of the submitting LEC.'' The Coalition suggests
that this phrase should be modified to state ``carrier identification
code of the IXC.'' According to the Coalition, this ``mirroring'' of
information back to the IXC by the LEC serves as a kind of
``handshake'' and is needed to confirm that the LEC has properly
identified the intended recipient of a particular notification.
The Coalition asks the Commission to modify section
64.4002(d). In particular, it proposes that a LEC that has received a
notification from an IXC indicating that the IXC's customer no longer
wishes to be presubscribed to any IXC (customer has selected ``no-PIC''
status) be required to respond to the IXC with a confirmation or reject
notification. As proposed by the Coalition, section 64.4002(d) would
read in pertinent part:
(d) Customer contacts LEC or new IXC to change PIC, or current IXC
to select no-PIC. When a LEC has removed at its local switch a
presubscribed customer from an IXC's network, in response to a customer
order, upon receipt of a properly verified PIC order submitted by
another IXC, or upon receipt of the current IXC's request to change the
PIC to no-PIC, the LEC must notify the customer's former IXC of this
event.
The Coalition proposes modifications to section 64.4002(e)
and (g) to make those subsections consistent with other notification
obligations of LECs adopted in the Order. First, it asks the Commission
to modify section 64.4002(e) to include the effective date of a change
to a customer's local service account as well as the carrier
identification code of the IXC. Second, the Coalition asks the
Commission to modify subsection (g) to include the customer's billing
telephone number, working telephone, and billing name and address; the
effective date of the change of local service provider; a description
of the customer type (i.e., business or residential); the
jurisdictional scope of the lines or terminals affected (i.e.,
intraLATA and/or interLATA and/or international); and the carrier
identification code of the IXC.
The Coalition suggests an additional clarification to
section 64.4002(g) whereby the Commission would insert the phrase ``in
LEC'' and remove the word ``new'' as specified in the bracketed
portions of the following sentence: ``If the customer also makes a PIC
change, the customer's former LEC must notify the customer's former
PIC(s) of the change [in LEC] and the new LEC must notify the
customer's [new] PIC of the customer's PIC selection.''
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that an initial regulatory
flexibility analysis be prepared for notice and comment rulemaking
proceedings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule will not, if
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number
of small entities.'' 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 which: (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).
On March 25, 2004, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking public comment on whether the Commission
should establish mandatory, minimum standards governing the exchange of
customer account information between local exchange carriers and
interexchange carriers. As required by the RFA, the Commission
incorporated into the NPRM an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(IRFA) and sought public comment on the specific issues raised in the
IRFA. Two entities filed comments addressing the IRFA. On February 25,
2005, the Commission adopted the Order which, as discussed above,
established extensive and detailed standards governing the exchange of
customer account information between local exchange carriers and
interexchange carriers. Consistent with the RFA, the Commission
incorporated into the Order a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
(FRFA) addressing, among other things, the comments that had been filed
in response to the IRFA.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on the Coalition's
[[Page 53139]]
proposed clarifications and modifications to Sec. 64.4002 of the
Commission's rules. The proposed clarifications and modifications are
in the nature of technical corrections to the Commission's customer
account record exchange rules that, if adopted, would not have a
significant economic impact on entities subject to those rules. For
example, the Coalition asserts that its proposed modification to Sec.
64.4002(d) would make this provision consistent with similar
notification requirements adopted in the Order simply by requiring a
LEC to confirm its receipt of a particular IXC-initiated notification
with an appropriate response. The Coalition similarly proposes
modifications to Sec. Sec. 64.4002(e) and (g) to include within the
information exchanges prescribed by those subsections, the same
standard categories of information that carriers routinely must provide
in connection with other notification obligations adopted in the Order.
If the Commission were to adopt the proposed modifications and
clarifications, we believe that the compliance burden, and resulting
economic impact on entities subject thereto, would be de minimus.
Therefore, the Commission certifies for purposes of the RFA that the
proposals in this document, if adopted, will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
The Commission will send a copy of this document, including a copy
of this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification, to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA. This initial certification will also
be published in the Federal Register.
Federal Communications Commission.
Jay Keithley,
Deputy Bureau Chief, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05-17704 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P