E8-29798. Universal Service Contribution Methodology; High-Cost Universal Service Support; IP-Enabled Services; Lifeline and Link Up; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; Numbering Resource Optimization; Intercarrier Compensation ...

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Proposed rule: extension of reply comment period.

SUMMARY:

This document grants motions requesting an extension of time to file reply comments on the proposals contained in the appendices of the Commission's November 5, 2008 Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Intercarrier Compensation and Universal Service Reform, FCC 08-262.

DATES:

Reply comments are due on or before December 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 99-200, 96-98, 01-92, 99-68; WC Docket Nos. 05-337, 03-109, 06-122, 04-36, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http://www.fcc.gov/​cgb/​ecfs/​. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail], and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. Include the docket number in the subject line of the message.
• Mail: Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [e-mail] or phone: [phone] 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:

Jennifer McKee, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-7400 or TTY: 202-418-0484 (universal service), or Victoria Goldberg, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-1520 or TTY 202-418-0484 (intercarrier compensation).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a summary of the Commission's Order released December 2, 2008. The complete text of the Order is available on the Commission's Internet site at http://www.fcc.gov and 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 [phone], facsimile [phone], TTY [phone], e-mail [e-mail]. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

The Commission received motions for extension of time to file reply comments in these proceedings (see 73 FR 66821, Nov. 12, 2008) from the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and the Rural Cellular Association (RCA). Although it is the policy of the Commission that motions for extension of time shall not be routinely granted, given the volume of comments to which parties are responding, the complexity of the issues involved, and the intervening holidays, the Commission finds that good cause exists to provide all parties an extension of time from December 3, 2008 to December 22, 2008 for filing reply comments in these proceedings.

Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 5(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), 155(c) and Sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, reply comments in these proceedings shall be filed on or before December 22, 2008.

It is further ordered that the Motion for Extension of Time for Reply Comments by the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates and the Motion for Extension of Time filed by the Rural Cellular Association are granted.

Comment Filing Procedures

Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR sections 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS); (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal; or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).

• Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/​cgb/​ecfs/​ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments.
• For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 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, filers should send an e-mail to [e-mail], and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response.
• Paper Filers: 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, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
• Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
• The Commission's contractor 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, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Federal Communications Commission.

Dana R. Shaffer,

Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau.