*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 24253.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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 03- 45 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS REGARDING APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW OF ORDERS DESIGNATING ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIERS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA CC Docket No. 96- 45 Release Date: January 10, 2003 Comment Date: February 10, 2003 Reply Comment Date: February 25, 2003 The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on applications for review of orders designating RCC Holdings, Inc. (RCC) and Cellular South License, Inc. (Cellular South) as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) in Alabama. The Bureau designated RCC and Cellular South as ETCs throughout their licensed service areas in rural and non- rural areas in the state of Alabama. 1 The Alabama Rural Local Exchange Carriers filed applications for review of the orders on December 23, 2003 and December 30, 2002, respectively. 2 Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before February 10, 2003, and reply comments on or before February 25, 2002. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 1 See Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service; RCC Holdings, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Throughout its Licensed Service Area in the State of Alabama, CC Docket No. 96- 45, DA 02- 3181, Memorandum Opinion and Order (Wireline Comp. Bur. rel. Nov. 27, 2002); Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service; Cellular South License, Inc. Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Throughout its Licensed Service Area in the State of Alabama, CC Docket No. 96- 45, DA 02- 3317, Memorandum Opinion and Order (Wireline Comp. Bur. rel. Dec. 4, 2002). Once designated as an ETC, a carrier is eligible to receive federal universal service support. See 47 U. S. C. § 254( e). ETC designation of RCC and Cellular South in rural telephone company service areas that RCC and Cellular South are not licensed to serve completely is pending the Alabama Public Service Commission’s agreement with this Commission on the redefinition of those affected rural telephone company service areas. 2 See Application for Review of the Alabama Rural Local Exchange Carriers in CC Docket No. 96- 45, DA 02- 746, DA 02- 3181, filed on December 23, 2002; Application for Review of the Alabama Rural Local Exchange Carriers in CC Docket No. 96- 45, DA 02- 1465, DA 02- 3317, filed on December 30, 2002 (collectively, Applications for Review). 1 2 (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. 3 Parties may file comments on one or both of these proceedings. Parties that may have already filed oppositions to or comments on either of the Applications for Review may, but are not required to, resubmit their oppositions/ comments. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. 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 each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U. S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 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. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room 5- B540, Washington, D. C. 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette copies to the Commission’s copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D. C. 20554. Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit- but- disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure. For further information, contact Cara Voth, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7400, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 3 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 2