[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41883-41884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19633]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Chapter 1
[WT Docket No. 99-217; FCC 99-141]
Promotion of Competitive Networks in Local Telecommunications
Markets
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry.
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SUMMARY: In this Notice of Inquiry, the Commission initiates a
proceeding intended to facilitate the development of competitive
telecommunications networks that will provide consumers with
alternatives to services provided by the incumbent wireline local
exchange carriers (LECs). In particular, the Commission seeks comment
on the following issues: reasonable and nondiscriminatory access to
public rights-of-way and competitively neutral state and local
taxation. A companion Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and a Third Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking are summarized elsewhere in this issue of
the Federal Register.
DATES: Comments are due August 13, 1999; Reply comments are due
September 3, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Parties who choose to file comments by paper should send
comments to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street,
S.W.; TW-A325; Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments filed through the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) can be sent as an
electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/
ecfs.html>. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information
about paper and electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Steinberg at (202) 418-0896 or
Joel Taubenblatt at (202) 418-1513 (Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Notice of Inquiry
in WT Docket No. 99-217 (the ``Notice''), FCC 99-141, adopted June 10,
1999 and released July 7, 1999. The complete text of the Notice is
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in
the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. and
also may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Services, (202) 857-3800, 445 12th Street,
S.W., CY-B400, Washington, D.C. 20554. The document is also available
via the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1999/
index.html>.
Introduction
1. This Notice is part of a larger item that seeks comments and
initiates an inquiry in order to further the Commission's ongoing
efforts to promote facilities-based competition in the local telephone
market. The larger item addresses several issues that are not squarely
before the Commission in pending proceedings. In particular, this
Notice initiates an inquiry regarding reasonable and nondiscriminatory
access to public rights-of-way and competitively neutral State and
local taxation.
Background
2. In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, codified at 47 U.S.C. 151
et seq., Congress included provisions intended to facilitate
competition with the incumbent LECs through three entry strategies:
resale of the incumbent LEC's services, leasing of unbundled network
elements, and use of a new entrant's own facilities. To date, the
Commission's efforts to facilitate local competition pursuant to these
provisions of the Act have generally encompassed all three of these
means of entry. Carriers who provide service by any of the three means
of competitive entry have the potential to bring many of the benefits
of competition to local exchange markets, and the Commission recognizes
it should continue to facilitate competitive entry by all means.
However, in the long term, the most substantial benefits to consumers
will be achieved through facilities-based competition. Only facilities-
based competitors can break down the incumbent LECs' bottleneck control
over local networks and provide services without having to rely on
their rivals for critical components of their offerings. Moreover, only
facilities-based competition can fully unleash competing providers'
abilities and incentives to innovate, both technologically and in
service development, packaging, and pricing.
Discussion
3. This Notice initiates an inquiry that will develop a record on
the effect of state and local rights-of-way and tax policies on
facilities-based competition. The Notice states that the Commission
[[Page 41884]]
intends to work with the State and Local Government Advisory Committees
and with representatives of the industry to consider these issues.
Filing Procedures
4. Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, 1.430, interested parties may
file comments on or before August 13, 1999, and reply comments on or
before September 3, 1999. 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 24,121
(1998).
5. 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, Postal Service mailing address, and the
applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit
electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for
e-mail comments, commenters should send an 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.
6. 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 appear in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit
two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman
Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445
12th Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554.
7. Regardless of whether parties choose to file electronically or
by paper, parties should also file one copy of any documents filed in
this docket with the Commission's copy contractor, International
Transcription Services, Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., CY-B400,
Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments and reply comments will be available
for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC
Reference Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.
8. Comments and reply comments must include a short and concise
summary of the substantive arguments raised in the pleading. Comments
and reply comments must also comply with 47 CFR 1.49, and all other
applicable sections of the Commission's rules. The Commission also
directs all interested parties to include the name of the filing party
and the date of the filing on each page of their comments and reply
comments. All parties are encouraged to utilize a table of contents,
regardless of the length of their submission.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy, Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-19633 Filed 7-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
