*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 41620* 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 04- 2750 THE WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITIONS CONCERNING ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DESIGNATIONS AND THE LIFELINE AND LINK- UP UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT MECHANISM CC Docket No. 96- 45 and WC Docket No. 03- 109 Release Date: August 30, 2004 Comment Date: September 20, 2004 Reply Comment Date: October 4, 2004 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on various filings concerning eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) designations and the Lifeline and Link- Up universal service support mechanism. First, on July 21, 2004, AT& T Corporation (AT& T) filed a petition for reconsideration of a Commission Order which modified certain rules concerning the Lifeline and Link- Up low income universal service support mechanism. 1 In particular, AT& T asks the Commission to reconsider its decision and to provide separate ETC certification procedures for carriers wishing to receive only low-income support. 2 Second, on August 16, 2004, TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TracFone) filed amendments to its petitions seeking ETC designation in Florida, New York, and Virginia pursuant to section 214( e)( 6) of the Communications Act, as amended. 3 In its amendments, TracFone modifies its petitions to request only low- income support and not high- cost support. 4 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 September 20, 2004, and reply comments on or before 1 See AT& T Corp. Petition for Limited Reconsideration, WC Docket No. 03- 109, filed July 21, 2004 (AT& T Petition); In the Matter of Lifeline and Link- Up, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket No. 03- 109, 19 FCC Rcd 8302 (2004) (Lifeline and Link- Up Order). 2 See AT& T Petition at 1- 3, 7, 9. 3 See TracFone Wireless, Inc. Amendment to Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Florida, CC Docket 96- 45, filed Aug. 16, 2004; TracFone Wireless, Inc. Amendment to Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of New York, CC Docket 96- 45, filed Aug. 16, 2004; TracFone Wireless, Inc. Amendment to Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the Commonwealth of Virginia, CC Docket 96- 45, filed Aug. 16, 2004; 47 U. S. C. § 214( e). 4 See id. 1 2 October 4, 2004. We request that all comments and reply comments be filed in both CC Docket No. 96- 45 and WC Docket No. 03- 109. 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 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs/. 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 appear 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, Natek, 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 Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. 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 Anita Cheng, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7400, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 2