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 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 
 October  17,  2005 
 DA  05-  2725 


 COMMENT  AND  REPLY  COMMENT  DATES  ESTABLISHED  FOR  NOTICE  OF  PROPOSED  RULEMAKING  IN  THE  MATTER  OF 
 CONSUMER  PROTECTION  IN  THE  BROADBAND  ERA 
 WC  DOCKET  NO.  05-  271 
 Comments  Due:  January  17,  2006  Reply  Comments  Due:  March  1,  2006 


 On  September  23,  2005,  the  Commission  released  the  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  in  WC  Docket  No.  05-  271  (NPRM).  1  In  the  NPRM,  the  Commission  sought  comment  on  the  need  for  any  non-economic 
 regulatory  requirements  necessary  to  ensure  that  consumer  protection  needs  are  met  by  all  providers  of  broadband  Internet  access  service,  regardless  of  the  underlying  technology.  A  summary  of 
 the  NPRM  was  published  in  the  Federal  Register  on  October  17,  2005,  triggering  the  cycle  for  comments  and  reply  comments.  2 


 This  matter  shall  be  treated  as  a  “permit-  but-  disclose”  proceeding  in  accordance  with  the  Commission’s  ex  parte  rules.  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.  Other  requirements  pertaining  to  oral  and  written  presentations  are  set  forth  in  section  1.1206(  b)  of  the  Commission’s  rules.  3 


 1  Appropriate  Framework  for  Broadband  Access  to  the  Internet  over  Wireline  Facilities;  Universal  Service 
 Obligations  of  Broadband  Providers,  CC  Docket  No.  02-  33;  Review  of  Regulatory  Requirements  for  Incumbent  LEC  Broadband  Telecommunications  Services,  CC  Docket  No.  01-  337;  Computer  III  Further  Remand  Proceedings:  Bell 


 Operating  Company  Provision  of  Enhanced  Services;  1998  Biennial  Regulatory  Review  –  Review  of  Computer  III  and  ONA  Safeguards  and  Requirements,  CC  Docket  Nos.  95-  20,  98-  10;  Conditional  Petition  of  the  Verizon 
 Telephone  Companies  for  Forbearance  Under  47  U.  S.  C.  §  160(  c)  with  Regard  to  Broadband  Services  Provided  Via  Fiber  to  the  Premises;  Petition  of  the  Verizon  Telephone  Companies  for  Declaratory  Ruling  or,  Alternatively,  for 
 Interim  Waiver  with  Regard  to  Broadband  Services  Provided  Via  Fiber  to  the  Premises,  WC  Docket  No.  04-  242;  Consumer  Protection  in  the  Broadband  Era,  WC  Docket  No.  05-  271,  Report  and  Order  and  Notice  of  Proposed 
 Rulemaking,  FCC  05-  150,  paras.  32-  86  (rel.  Sept.  23,  2005)  (Wireline  Broadband  Internet  Access  Services  Order  and  NPRM).  In  the  Wireline  Broadband  Internet  Access  Services  Order,  the  Commission  eliminated  Computer 
 Inquiry  requirements  and  Title  II  obligations  applicable  to  wireline  broadband  Internet  access  services  offered  by  facilities-  based  providers.  See  id.  at  paras.  32-  86. 
 2  70  Fed.  Reg.  60259  (Oct.  17,  2005). 
 3  47  C.  F.  R.  §  1.1206(  b). 
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 For  further  information  regarding  this  proceeding,  please  contact  William  Kehoe  or  Jodie  May,  Competition  Policy  Division,  Wireline  Competition  Bureau,  (202)  418-  1580. 
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