[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 106 (Friday, May 31, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27322-27323]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13667]
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[[Page 27323]]
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 36 and 69
[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA-96-702]
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule: Denial of extension of time.
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SUMMARY: On May 6, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission
(``Commission'') released an Order (``Order'') denying a request to
extend the deadline for filing reply comments to its Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking and Order Establishing Joint Board, released March 8, 1996
(CC Docket No. 96-45). The Commission denied the request out of concern
that further delay in this proceeding might jeopardize the Joint
Board's ability to issue a recommended decision within the statutory
deadline set forth in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. By not extending
the period for filing reply comments, the Commission intends to support
the Joint Board in its resolve to announce its recommended decision on
or before the statutory deadline of November 8, 1996.
DATES: Reply comments were due on or before May 8, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW., Washington, D.C.
20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Reel, 202-418-0850, Accounting and
Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 8, 1996, the Federal Communications
Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order
Establishing Joint Board (``NPRM''), 61 FR 10499 (March 14, 1996). The
Commission sought comment on all matters discussed in that NPRM. The
deadline for comments was April 8, 1996 and the deadline for reply
comments was May 3, 1996. On April 1, 1996, the Commission released an
Order that extended the comment period until April 12, 1996 and the
reply comment period until May 7, 1996 for all interested parties. On
April 30, 1996, Information Renaissance and California Technology
Assistance Project (petitioners) filed a joint request for a seven day
further extension of the reply comment deadline. Petitioners argued
that a further extension would permit parties to avail themselves of
the original comments that petitioners had put on the World Wide Web in
electronic form, and thereby file reply comments based upon a better
knowledge of the original comments. Believing that a further extension
of time would seriously jeopardize the Joint Board's ability to issue a
recommended decision within the statutory deadline set forth in the
Act, the Commission found that the public interest would not be served
by a further extension of time. Pursuant to the Commission's rules
governing motions for the extension of time (47 CFR Sec. 1.46),
however, parties have two business days grace after the Commission acts
on a timely filed motion for an extension of time. Because the
Commission denied petitioner's motion on May 6, 1996, reply comments
were due May 8, 1996.
Federal Communications Commission.
Kenneth P. Moran,
Chief, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.
[FR Doc. 96-13667 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
