95-21148. Common Carrier Services: Increasing Subscribership and Usage of the Public Switched Network  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 44296-44297]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-21148]
    
    
    
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    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    
    47 CFR Parts 36 and 69
    
    [CC Docket No. 95-115; FCC 95-281]
    
    
    Common Carrier Services: Increasing Subscribership and Usage of 
    the Public Switched Network
    
    AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: On July 13, 1995, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed 
    Rulemaking on increasing telephone subscribership and usage. The FCC is 
    considering proposals to help reconnect subscribers disconnected from 
    the network when they fail to pay interstate long-distance charges, and 
    to help new and existing low-income subscribers to avoid disconnection 
    due to unpaid interstate long-distance charges.
    
    DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 27, 1995. 
    Reply comments are due on or before October 27, 1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M St., N.W., 
    Washington, D.C. 20554.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Andrew Mulitz, Attorney/Advisor or George Johnson, Attorney/Advisor, 
    Accounting and Audits, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-0850.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
    of Proposed Rulemaking adopted July 13, 1995, and released July 20, 
    1995. The full text of this Commission decision is available for 
    inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Dockets 
    Branch (Room 230), 1919 M St., N.W., Washington, D.C. The complete text 
    of this decision may also be purchased from the Commission's copy 
    contractor, Downtown Copy Center 1990 M Street, N.W., Suite 640, 
    Washington, D.C. 20036.
        The FCC is proposing to require carriers to adjust security deposit 
    requirements to take into account the diminished credit risk when new 
    or reconnected subscribers agree to accept voluntary toll restriction 
    service. The 
    
    [[Page 44297]]
    FCC seeks comment on ways to increase the effectiveness of the Link Up 
    assistance program. The FCC is considering whether to require LECs to 
    provide, at reasonable cost, interstate long-distance restriction 
    services, allowing subscribers voluntarily to block only those 
    interstate calls for which they would be charged. The FCC is also 
    considering prohibiting LECs from disconnecting subscribers for failure 
    to pay outstanding interstate long-distance charges. The FCC seeks 
    comment on ways to modify the Lifeline program to increase 
    subscribership and whether the program should be extended to certain 
    multi-line entities such as schools and libraries. The FCC also 
    requests comment on ways in which the marketplace can operate to make 
    low-cost services, such as prepaid debit cards and voice mailboxes, 
    available to highly-mobile, low-income persons, and whether Link Up 
    assistance should be extended to include such services to individuals 
    that are not already telephone subscribers. Comments are sought on ways 
    to extend telephone service to unserved areas, alternative methods to 
    measure subscribership, and ways to increase consumer awareness of 
    subscribership opportunities.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
    
        We have determined that Section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 605(b) does not apply to this 
    rulemaking proceeding because if promulgated, it would not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
    The definition of a ``small entity'' in Section 3 of the Small Business 
    Act excludes any business that is dominant in its field of operation. 
    Although some of the local exchange carriers that will be affected are 
    very small, local exchange companies do not qualify as small entities 
    because they have a nationwide monopoly on ubiquitous access to the 
    subscribers in their service area. The Commission has found all 
    exchange carriers to be dominant in the Competitive Carrier proceeding. 
    85 FCC 2d 1, 23-24 (1980). To the extent that small telephone companies 
    will be affected by these rules, we hereby certify that these rules 
    will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of 
    ``small entities.'' Although we do not find that the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act is applicable to this proceeding, this Commission has 
    an ongoing concern with the effect of its rules and regulation on small 
    business and the customers of the regulated carriers as is evidenced by 
    this proceeding.
    
    Ordering Clause
    
        Accordingly, It is ordered that,  pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 4(i), 
    201-205, 218-220, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
    amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 201-205, 218-220, and 403, notice 
    is hereby given of the proposals in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
    
    Federal Communications Commission.
    William F. Caton,
    Acting Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 95-21148 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/25/1995
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
95-21148
Dates:
Comments must be submitted on or before September 27, 1995. Reply comments are due on or before October 27, 1995.
Pages:
44296-44297 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CC Docket No. 95-115, FCC 95-281
PDF File:
95-21148.pdf
CFR: (2)
47 CFR 36
47 CFR 69