*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 12004.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA- 01- 1933 Released: August 13, 2001 INTERNATIONAL BUREAU GRANTS MOTION FOR LIMITED EXTENSION OF TIME FOR FILING COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS ON PETITION OF ATLANTIC TELE- NETWORK FOR WAIVER OF THE BENCHMARK SETTLEMENT RATE FOR GUYANA IB Docket No. 96- 261 1. On August 7, 2001, Caribbean Wireless Telecom, LLC, (CWT) a U. S. company registered to do business in Guyana, filed a motion, pursuant to Section 1.46 of the Commission’s Rules 1 to extend the period for filing comments and reply comments to a Petition of Atlantic Tele- Network, Inc. (ATN) for a Waiver of the Benchmark Settlement Rate for Guyana. 2 CWT requests an extension of sixty days in which to file comments. The deadline for filing comments was August 14, 2001. Caribbean Telecommunications filed comments in support of CWT’s motion. 3 ATN opposes the motion of CWT. 4 2. The motion requests an extension of time in order to respond to the numerous factual and statistical claims made by ATN that CWT disputes. CTW argues that no prejudice will result from granting the extension because the benchmark rate on the U. S.- Guyana route is not scheduled to take effect until January 1, 2002. CTW also states that it has been unable to get a complete copy of ATN’s pe tition and that many documents it needs to prepare its comments are difficult to access and copy because they are stored at the Guyana PUC. ATN argues that CWT fails to allege facts sufficient to establish good cause to grant its motion. 1 47 C. F. R. § 1.46. 2 See Caribbean Wireless Telecom, LLC, Motion for Extension of Time to File Comments and Reply Comments, filed August 7, 2001. 3 See Caribbean Telecommunications Limited, Comments in Support of Motion for Extension of Time, filed August 7, 2001. 4 See Atlantic Tele- Network, Inc., Opposition to Motion for Extension of Time to File Comments and Reply Comments, filed August 10, 2001. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov 1 3. The Commission does not routinely grant motions for extension of time. Nevertheless, we still consider and, in certain instances, grant limited requests for extensions of time where we find that the public interest would be served by a more complete discussion of the matters pending before the Commission. In the case before us, ATN has filed a petition containing extensive arguments based on detailed factual allegations. We believe that it is in the public interest to decide this matter with the most complete and well- developed record possible. Due to the complexity of the issues, CTW’s difficulty in gaining timely access to information, and the Commission’s desire to obtain accurate information, we find that a moderate extension of time appropriately balances the interests of commenting parties without unreasonably delaying the resolution of the proceeding. Therefore, parties have until September 7, 2001 to file comments and until September 21, 2001 to file replies. 4. For further information you may contact Ken Stanley at (202) 418- 1486. 2