*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 45476.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, 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 05- 143 Release Date: January 21, 2005 PARTIES ARE INVITED TO COMMENT ON SOUTHERN LINC PETITIONS FOR DESIGNATION AS AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA AND GEORGIA CC Docket No. 96- 45 Comment Date: February 4, 2005 Reply Comment Date: February 18, 2005 Interested parties are invited to comment on three petitions filed by Southern Communications Services, Inc., d/ b/ a Southern LINC (Southern LINC) seeking designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) for Alabama, Florida and Georgia pursuant to section 214( e)( 6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 1 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 4, 2005, and reply comments on or before February 18, 2005. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. 2 Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to 1 See Southern Communications Services, Inc., d/ b/ a Southern LINC Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Alabama, CC Docket No. 96- 45, filed September 14, 2004; Letter from Erin W. Emmott, counsel for Southern LINC to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary for the FCC, dated January 12, 2005 (Alabama Supplement); Southern Communications Services, Inc., d/ b/ a Southern LINC Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Florida, CC Docket No. 96- 45, filed September 14, 2004; Letter from Erin W. Emmott, counsel for Southern LINC to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary for the FCC, dated January 12, 2005 (Florida Supplement); Southern Communications Services, Inc., d/ b/ a Southern LINC Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the State of Georgia, CC Docket No. 96- 45, filed September 14, 2004; Letter from Erin W. Emmott, counsel for Southern LINC to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary for the FCC, dated January 12, 2005 (Georgia Supplement). See also 47 U. S. C. § 214( e)( 6). We note that Southern LINC should provide copies of its petitions to the relevant state commissions if it has not already done so. In addition, the Commission will send a copy of this Public Notice to the relevant state commissions by overnight express mail to ensure that they are notified of the notice and comment period. 2 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 1 2 . 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, 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 Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties who choose to file by paper 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, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II 445 12th Street, Suite CY- B402, Washington, DC 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 Mark Seifert, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7400, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 2