[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
