*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 53172.doc* 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 05- 3001 THE WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON TWO PETITIONS FOR FURTHER WAIVER OF COMMISSION RULES TO EXTEND RELIEF PROVIDED IN FCC 05- 178 TO DIRECTLY AFFECTED SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES IN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, AND TEXAS CC Docket Nos. 96- 45, 02- 6 and WC Docket Nos. 02- 60, 03- 109 Release Date: November 18, 2005 Comment Date: December 9, 2005 Reply Comment Date: December 19, 2005 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on the following two petitions: 1 (1) A petition filed by the states of Louisiana and Mississippi requesting that the Commission extend a special filing window for Funding Year 2006, until September 30, 2006, for schools and libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi directly affected by Hurricane Katrina and to waive the 2- in- 5 rule for such directly affected schools and libraries for Funding Year 2006. 2 (2) A petition filed by the Texas Education Agency requesting that the Commission allow Texas public schools apply for additional E- rate funding due to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita; a waiver of the de minimis standard in FCC 05- 178, and an extension of time from 60 days to 120 days allowed for public schools to apply for additional E- rate funds. 3 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 December 9, 2005, and reply comments on or before December 19, 2005. All pleadings are to reference CC Docket Nos. 96- 45, 02- 6 and WC Docket Nos. 02- 60, 03- 109. Comments may be filed using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (“ ECFS”), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. 4 1 The petitions seek to extend the relief provided by the Commission in Federal- State Joint Board on Universal Service, Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism, Rural Health Care Support Mechanism, Lifeline and Link- Up, CC Docket Nos. 96- 45, 02- 6, WC Docket Nos. 02- 60, 03- 109, Order, FCC 05- 178 (rel. Oct. 14, 2005). 2 See “Request for Further Waiver of FCC Rules to Extend Relief Provided in FCC 05- 178 to Directly Affected Schools and Libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi,” filed Nov. 1, 2005. 3 See “Waiver for Good Cause,” filed Nov. 1, 2005 by Shirley J. Neeley, Ed. D., Commissioner of Education. 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 http:// www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www. regulations. gov. 5 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 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, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. -All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e- mail to fcc504@ fcc. gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202- 418- 0530 (voice), 202- 418- 0432 (tty). 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 Mika Savir, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7400, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 5 Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Federal eRulemaking Portal website for submitting comments. 2