*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 34780* 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- 36 January 9, 2004 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PUERTO RICO TELEPHONE COMPANY’S PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING THAT REVERSE TOLL BILLING IS PREEMPTED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION’S THOUSANDS- BLOCK NUMBER POOLING AND LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY REQUIREMENTS PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED CC Docket No. 95- 116 Comment Date: February 9, 2004 Reply Comment Date: March 1, 2004 The Wireline Competition Bureau invites comment on the November 26, 2003 petition for declaratory ruling filed by the Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC). 1 Specifically, PRTC seeks a determination that an order issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Board of Puerto Rico (Board) requiring that PRTC continue to offer “reverse toll billing” is preempted by federal law. 2 PRTC contends that the Board’s order is inconsistent with the Commission’s thousands- block number pooling and local number portability requirements. 3 We seek comment on PRTC’s contention. Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, interested parties may file comments on or before February 9, 2004, and reply comments on or before March 1, 2004. All filings should refer to CC Docket No. 95- 116. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. 4 1 Puerto Rico Telephone Company Petition for Waiver, Filed Nov. 26, 2003 (PRTC Petition). 2 “Reverse toll billing” or “wide area calling” allows wireless providers to adopt alternative arrangements in order avoid having wireline customers pay toll charges when calling certain numbers. Id. 3 Id. 4 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 1 2 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 fling instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to , 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, 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 then 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 12 th Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, 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 12 th 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 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20054. 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 Pam Slipakoff, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7705, TTY (202) 418- 0484, or pslipako@ fcc. gov. 2