*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 34744* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 04- 31 January 8, 2004 Parties Asked To Refresh Record Regarding Reconsideration of Rules Adopted in 1999 Access Reform Docket CC Docket Nos. 96- 262, 94- 1, 98- 63, 98- 157 COMMENTS DUE: 30 days after Federal Register publication of this Notice REPLY COMMENTS DUE: 45 days after Federal Register publication of this Notice The Wireline Competition Bureau (the Bureau) invites interested parties to update the record pertaining to petitions for reconsideration and clarification filed with respect to the rules the Commission adopted in the 1999 Access Reform Fifth Report and Order. 1 After the Commission on August 27, 1999 released the Access Reform Fifth Report and Order, which established a framework for granting greater pricing flexibility for price cap carriers as competition develops, some parties filed petitions for reconsideration and clarification of that order. 2 Since then, the Commission has received and granted a number of petitions seeking pricing flexibility. In addition, AT& T recently filed a petition for rulemaking regarding the pricing of special access services. 3 This petition asks the Commission to revisit its pricing flexibility rules, and parties have responded by filing extensive comments. Because the petitions for reconsideration and clarification were filed several years ago, the intervening developments and passage of time may have rendered the records developed by those petitions stale. Issues raised in the pending petitions for reconsideration and clarification may have become moot or irrelevant. As a result, it is not clear what issues arising out of the Access Reform Fifth Report and Order, if any, remain in dispute. 1 Access Charge Reform, Price Cap Performance Review for Local Exchange Carriers, Interexchange Carrier Purchases of Switched Access Services Offered by Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, Petition of U S West Communications, Inc. for Forbearance from Regulation as a Dominant Carrier in the Phoenix, Arizona MSA, CC Docket Nos. 96- 262, 94- 1, 98- 63, 98- 157, Fifth Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 14 FCC Rcd 14221 (1999) (Access Reform Fifth Report and Order). 2 The following parties filed petitions for reconsideration and/ or clarification: Bell Atlantic, GTE, Network Access Solutions Corporation, and the United States Telephone Association. 3 AT& T Corp. Petition for Rulemaking to Reform Regulation of Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier Rates for Interstate Special Access Services, RM No. 10593, Petition for Rulemaking (2002). 1 2 3 All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th St. SW, Suite TW- A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two (2) copies of the comments and reply comments should also be sent to Deena Shetler, Deputy Division Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 5- A121, Washington, D. C. 20554. Parties shall also serve one copy with Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, (202) 863- 2893, or via email to . The original petitions for reconsideration and clarification filed by the parties in CC Docket Nos. 96- 262, 94- 1, 98- 63, and 98- 157 are available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12 th St. SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, DC 20554. The documents may also be purchased from Qualex International, telephone (202) 863- 2893, facsimile (202) 863- 2898. 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). For further information, contact Marvin Sacks, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418- 1520. - FCC - 3