*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 14682.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 02- 271 RELEASED: February 6, 2002 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON JOINT PETITION FOR EXPEDITED RULEMAKING FILED BY AARP, CONSUMER ACTION, CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA, CONSUMERS UNION, THE MASSACHUSETTS UNION ON PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY UTILITY COMMISSIONERS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONSUMER AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATES, AND THE NATIONAL CONSUMERS LEAGUE CI DOCKET NO. 02- 22 Comments Due: March 11, 2002 Reply Comments Due: March 26, 2002 On October 29, 2001, nine petitioners - AARP, Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, the Massachusetts Union on Public Housing Tenants, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, and the National Consumers League - filed a joint request for expedited rulemaking. The Joint Petition asks the Commission to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to establish a minimum notice requirement for recently detariffed domestic toll services. Specifically, the petitioners ask the Commission to issue, on an expedited basis, a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on whether it should require interexchange carriers to give at least 30 days advance written notice to their subscribers prior to making any material changes to their rates, terms, or conditions. Although the Joint Petition was filed in the Commission's detariffing docket, Policy and Rules Concerning the Interstate, Interexchange Marketplace, Implementation of Section 254( g) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, CC Docket No. 96- 61, we are opening a new Consumer Information Bureau docket, CI Docket No. 02- 22, to receive comment on the Joint Petition. Interested parties may file comments on the Joint Petition for Expedited Rulemaking on or before March 11, 2002 and reply comments on or before March 26, 2002. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (“ ECFS”) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to: . In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the docket number of this proceeding. Only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To obtain 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. 1 2 In response to contaminated mail last October, the U. S. Postal Service (" USPS") is irradiating certain mail sent to the Commission by first- class mail, USPS Express Mail, and USPS Priority Mail. This process can result in delivery delays and the deterioration of mail. Given the current mail situation, we encourage parties to file comments electronically. Parties that choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies. Effective December 18, 2001, paper filings addressed to the Secretary will be accepted at a new location in downtown Washington, DC. The address is 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location will be 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. This facility is the only location where hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary will be accepted. Accordingly, the Commission will no longer accept these filings at 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. In addition, this is a reminder that, effective October 18, 2001, the Commission discontinued receiving hand- delivered or messenger-delivered filings for the Secretary at its headquarters location at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (other than USPS Express Mail and Priority Mail), must be addressed to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. This location will be open 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. The USPS first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should continue to be addressed to the Commission's headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. The USPS mail addressed to the Commission's headquarters actually goes to our Capitol Heights facility for screening prior to delivery at the Commission. If you are sending this type of document or using this delivery method… It should be addressed for delivery to… Hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002 (8: 00 to 7: 00 p. m.) Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (other than United States Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743 (8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m.) United States Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail 445 12 th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Filings and comments are available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, DC, 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202- 863- 2893, facsimile 202- 863- 2898, or via e- mail qualexint@ aol. com. For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Renee Owusu, Consumer Information Bureau, (202) 418- 0221. - FCC - 2