03-15304. Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on ALLTEL Communications, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Alabama

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice; solicitation of comments.

SUMMARY:

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau sought comment on the ALLTEL Petition. ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL) is seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to receive federal universal service support for service offered throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including rural and non-rural areas.

DATES:

Comments are due on or before June 30, 2003. Reply comments are due on or before July 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for further filing instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shannon Lipp, Attorney, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, [phone], TTY [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a summary of the Commission's Public Notice, CC Docket No. 96-45, released June 3, 2003. On April 14, 2003, ALLTEL Communications, Inc. (ALLTEL), a commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) carrier, filed with the Commission a petition under section 214(e)(6) seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) to receive federal universal service support for service offered throughout its licensed service area in the state of Alabama, including rural and non-rural areas. On May 21, 2003, ALLTEL filed an amendment to its petition with regard to its proposed service areas. Specifically, ALLTEL contends that: the Alabama Public Service Commission (Alabama Commission) has provided an affirmative statement that it does not regulate CMRS carriers; ALLTEL satisfies all the statutory and regulatory prerequisites for ETC designation; and designating ALLTEL as an ETC will serve the public interest.

Pursuant to § 54.207(c) of the Commission's rules, ALLTEL also requests that the Commission designate ALLTEL as an ETC in service areas defined along boundaries that differ from incumbent rural local exchange company (LEC) study area boundaries. ALLTEL requests that these service areas be redefined on a wire center by wire center basis such that each wire center is a separate service area. ALLTEL intends to serve each proposed wire center in its entirety. The service areas requested by ALLTEL for ETC designation partially cover the study areas of ALLTEL Alabama, Inc. (a wireline affiliate of ALLTEL by virtue of common ownership by ALLTEL Corporation), Butler Telephone Co. Inc., Castleberry Telephone Co. Inc., Frontier Communications of Alabama, Frontier Communications of The South, Graceba Total Communications, GTC Inc.—AL, Gulf Telephone Co., Hayneville Telephone Co. Inc., Millry Telephone Company, Mon-Cre Telephone Cooperative, Pine Belt Telephone Company, Union Springs Telephone Co. Inc. ALLTEL maintains that the proposed redefinition of service areas for ETC purposes is consistent with the factors to be considered when redefining a rural telephone company service area, as enumerated by the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service (Joint Board).

The petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the Alabama Commission. The Commission will also send a copy of this Public Notice to the Alabama Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the Alabama Commission is notified of the notice and comment period.

Pursuant to §§ 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments as follows: comments are due on or before June 30, 2003, and reply comments are due on or before July 7, 2003. 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 http://www.fcc.gov/​e-file/​ecfs.html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, 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 number. 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 [e-mail], and should include the following words in the body of the message, “get form <your e-mail address>.” 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. 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). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, 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. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room 5-B540, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies to the Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20054.

Pursuant to § 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure.

Federal Communications Commission.

Paul Garnett,

Acting Assistant Division Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division.