[Federal Register: February 9, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 28)]
[Notices]
[Page 9705]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09fe01-50]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA 01-278]
Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on Western Wireless's
Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier for
the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.
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SUMMARY: In a Public Notice in this proceeding released on February 2,
2001, the Common Carrier Bureau sought comment on Western Wireless'
petition seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier
to receive federal universal service support for a service area
comprised of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
DATES: Comments are due on or before March 12, 2001. Reply comments are
due on or before March 26, 2001.
ADDRESSES: See Supplementary Information section for where and how to
file comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard D. Smith or Anita Cheng,
Common Carrier Bureau, Accounting Policy Division, (202) 418-7400 TTY:
(202) 418-0484.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 19, 2001, Western Wireless
Corporation (Western Wireless) 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 the provision of service on the Pine Ridge Reservation in
South Dakota. Specifically, Western Wireless contends that: (1)
Telecommunications service offered on the Pine Ridge Reservation is not
subject to the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Public Utilities
Commission (South Dakota Commission), (2) Western Wireless meets all
the statutory and regulatory requirements to be an ETC, and (3)
designating Western Wireless as an ETC for the Reservation will advance
the public interest. The Common Carrier Bureau seeks comment on Western
Wireless' petition.
In the Twelfth Report and Order, 65 FR 47941, August 4, 2000, the
Commission concluded that a carrier seeking a designation of
eligibility to receive federal universal service support for
telecommunications service provided on tribal lands may petition the
Commission for designation under section 214(e)(6), without first
seeking designation from the appropriate state commission. The
petitioner must provide copies of its petition to the appropriate state
commission at the time of filing with the Commission. Pursuant to the
guidelines established in the Twelfth Report and Order, the Commission
will publish a copy of this Public Notice, or a summary thereof, in the
Federal Register. The Commission will also send the Public Notice
announcing the comment and reply comment dates to the South Dakota
Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that the state
commission is notified of the notice and comment period. To ensure that
all interested parties are aware of the comment dates, the Bureau will
issue a Public Notice following Federal Register publication specifying
the exact comment and reply comment dates.
Pursuant to Secs. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
interested parties may file comments as follows: Comments are due March
12, 2001 and reply comments are due March 26, 2001. 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. 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
receive 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 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. All
filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman
Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl
Todd, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street SW., Room 5-B540,
Washington, DC 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies
to the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription
Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.
Pursuant to Sec. 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, this proceeding
will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte
communications are permitted subject to disclosure.
Dated: February 5, 2001.
Katherine L. Schroder,
Division Chief, Accounting Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 01-3325 Filed 2-8-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U