[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37980-37981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18316]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 61 and 63
[IB Docket No. 95-118, FCC 95-286]
Streamlining the International Section 214 Authorization Process
and Tariff Requirements
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rules.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission is proposing rules to
streamline the international Section 214 authorization process and
tariff requirements. The Commission proposes to streamline many Section
214 authorization requirements as well as tariff requirements. The
Commission believes that the proposals will greatly lessen the
regulatory burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the
Commission and allow carriers to operate more efficiently and respond
better to customers' needs in a timely manner. Additionally, the
Commission's proposals will enable international carriers to enter,
expand, and exit the market more quickly.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 1995. Reply
comments must be submitted on or before September 7, 1995.
ADDRESSES: All comments and reply comments concerning these proposals
should be addressed to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and reply comments will be
available for public inspection during regular business hours in the
FCC Reference Center (room 239) of the Federal Communications
Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Helene T. Schrier or Troy F. Tanner, Attorney-Advisors, Policy and
Facilities Branch, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau,
(202) 418-1470.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking adopted on July 13, 1995 and released July 17,
1995. The full text of this notice is available for inspection and
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (room
239) of the Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW.,
Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of this notice also may be
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Service, Inc., 2100 M Street NW., suite 140, Washington,
DC 20037, (202) 857-3800.
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act
A. Reason for Action
This rulemaking proceeding was initiated to obtain comment
regarding proposed changes to the Commission's international Section
214 authorization process and tariff requirements.
B. Objectives
The Commission seeks to streamline the international Section 214
authorization process and tariff requirements to greatly lessen the
regulatory burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the
Commission and enable them to operate more efficiently and respond
better to customers' needs in a timely manner.
[[Page 37981]]
Such proposals also seek to enable international carriers to enter and
exit the market more quickly with greater flexibility to meet the
evolving needs of a global telecommunications market.
C. Legal Basis
The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4 and 203 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154, 203 (1995).
D. Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements
None.
E. Federal Rules That Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These Rules
None.
F. Description, Potential Impact, and Number of Small Entities Involved
The proposals discussed in this notice of proposed rulemaking will
reduce regulatory requirements on small resellers and facilities-based
providers who file international Section 214 authorization applications
and tariffs. These proposals also are intended to enable these carriers
to enter and exit the market more quickly thereby enabling increased
competition in the international markets. Copies of this notice will be
sent to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business
Administration.
G. Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small Entities
Consistent With Stated Objective(s)
None.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes to streamline the
international Section 214 authorization process and tariff
requirements. The proposed rules would greatly reduce the regulatory
burdens on applicants, authorized carriers, and the Commission and make
it easier for carriers to enter, expand and exit the international
service market.
The notice proposes to ease entry into the marketplace by enabling
a nondominant carrier to obtain a global Section 214 authorization,
which is not limited to specific carrier facilities. This authorization
would allow carriers to provide international services to virtually all
points in the world, using any licensed facility. This authorization
would be subject to an exclusion list that the Commission would publish
identifying countries or facilities for which there are restrictions.
To further ease entry into the international marketplace, the Notice
proposes to simplify and accelerate the Section 214 and cable landing
license application process. The notice proposes to reduce the detailed
information now required of these applicants. To accelerate the
Commission's processing of applications, the Notice proposes to shorten
the comment period on applications that are subject to streamlined
processing for facilities-based and resale applicants from 30 to 21
days and for nonstreamlined applications from 30 to 28 days and
proposes a 14 day reply period for all applications. The notice also
proposes to encourage electronic filing of international Section 214
applications and to require that applications in foreign languages be
accompanied with a certified translation in English.
The notice also would eliminate several regulatory requirements
that delay carriers from expanding their services. Under the proposals,
resellers could provide international resale services via any
authorized common carrier, except those affiliated with the reseller,
without obtaining additional authority. Private line resale carriers
could resell interconnected private lines for switched services to all
designated ``equivalent'' countries, without obtaining additional
authority to serve each equivalent county. Carriers may add circuits on
private satellite or cable systems, without obtaining prior authority.
The notice also eases exit from the market, as the proposals allow
dominant carriers to automatically convey transmission capacity in
submarine cables to other carriers without obtaining prior Section 214
authority. Additionally, the proposals allow nondominant carriers to
provide 60, as opposed to 120, days' notice to their customers before
discontinuing service or retiring facilities.
The notice also proposes to further streamline the tariff
requirements for nondominant international resale and facilities-based
carriers by permitting them to file their international tariffed rates
on one day's notice instead of the current 14 days' notice. And, the
Commission seeks comment, in general, on whether to streamline the
international tariff process.
Finally, the Commission seeks comments on what, if any, Section 214
authorization requirements it should forbear from applying if given
forbearance authority by Congress.
List of Subjects
47 CFR Part 61
Communications common carriers.
47 CFR Part 63
Communications common carriers.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-18316 Filed 7-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
