*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 13394.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 455 12 th STREET, S. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 2832 News media information 202/ 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202/ 418- 2830 TTY 202/ 418- 0484 202/ 418- 0485 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Released: December 6, 2001 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR PETITION OF IOWA TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR FORBEARANCE FROM THE DEADLINE FOR PRICE CAP CARRIERS TO ELECT INTERSTATE ACCESS RATES BASED ON THE CALLS ORDER OR A FORWARD LOOKING COST STUDY CC Docket No. 01- 331 COMMENTS: January 4, 2002 REPLY COMMENTS: January 18, 2002 On November 26, 2001, Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Iowa Telecom) filed a petition requesting that the Commission forbear from enforcing its deadline for price cap local exchange carriers (LECs) to elect whether to set their interstate access rates according to the rate levels prescribed in the CALLS Order or by submitting cost studies based on forward looking economic cost. 1 The Commission required price cap LECs to make this election by September 14, 2000. 2 Iowa Telecom requests that it now be permitted to change its election by filing a cost study for its Average Traffic Sensitive (ATS) rates. Alternatively, Iowa Telecom requests that the Commission forbear from enforcing the target rate for the ATS charge prescribed in section 61.3( qq) of its rules, 47 C. F. R. § 61. 3( qq). Under section 61.33( qq), Iowa Telecom is permitted to charge an ATS rate of $0.0095 per minute to interexchange carriers. Iowa Telecom filed its petition for forbearance pursuant to Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act), 47 U. S. C. § 160. This matter shall be treated as a "permit- but- disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one- or two- sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit- but- disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1. 1206( b) of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). Interested parties may file comments on or before January 4, 2002, and reply comments on or before January 18, 2002. When filing comments and/ or reply comments, please reference CC Docket No. 01- 331. 1 See Access Charge Reform, CC Docket No. 96- 262, Sixth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 12962, 12984 (2000) (CALLS Order), aff’d in part, rev’d in part, Texas Office of Public Utility Counsel v. FCC, 265 F. 3d 313 (5 th Cir. 2001). 2 See Access Charge Reform, CC Docket No. 96- 262, Order, 15 FCC Rcd 23435, 23437- 38 (CCB 2000). 1 2 Parties filing comments or reply comments are strongly encouraged to use the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (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. 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 an electronic comment 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. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of all comments and reply comments with the Commission’s Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room TW- B204, Washington, DC 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be filed with the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12 th Street S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, DC 20554, and one copy with the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division, Room 5- A223, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, DC 20554. In accordance with the Commission’s earlier Public Notice announcing that hand- delivered or messenger- delivered filings are no longer accepted at the Commission’s headquarters, hand- delivered or messenger- delivered filings must be delivered to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. 3 For further information, contact Julie Saulnier, Competitive Pricing Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418- 1530. - FCC - 3 See Public Notice, FCC Announces Change in Filing Location for Paper Documents, DA 01- 2435 (rel. Oct. 17, 2001). 2