*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 60875.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., 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 06- 2279 Released: November 6, 2006 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, CLARIFICATION FILED BY NATIONAL LAMBDARAIL, INC. PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED WC DOCKET NO. 02- 60 Comments Due: November 21, 2006 Reply Comments Due: November 28, 2006 On October 30, 2006, National LambdaRail, Inc. (NLR) filed a petition for reconsideration or, in the alternative, clarification 1 of the Commission’s Order establishing a rural health care pilot program to encourage the provision of telehealth and telemedicine services throughout the nation. 2 Under the pilot program, selected applicants will receive up to 85 percent of the costs of building state and regional broadband networks and connecting those networks to Internet2, a dedicated nationwide backbone, as well as the costs of the advanced telecommunications and information services that will ride over those networks. 3 In its Petition, NLR asks the Commission to reconsider or clarify its Order “by finding that … the pilot program will also provide funding to support the cost of connecting state and regional networks to NLR.” 4 Through this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau invites interested parties to comment on the Petition. 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 and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. 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. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). 1 Petition for Reconsideration or, in the Alternative, Clarification by National LambdaRail, Inc., WC Docket No. 02- 60 (filed Oct. 30, 2006) (Petition). 2 Rural Health Care Support Mechanism, WC Docket No. 02- 60, Order, FCC 06- 144 (rel. Sept. 29, 2006). 3 Id., paras. 2- 3. Connection to Internet2 is not required, but may be requested by the applicants. 4 Petition at 6. In its Petition, NLR states that it is a dedicated nationwide backbone like Internet2. Id. at 5. NLR further claims that NLR and Internet2 share the following additional characteristics: they are not- for- profit organizations; they represent and serve the research and education community; they provide access to advanced telecommunications and information services; they are more reliable and stable than the public Internet; and they link government research institutions, as well as academic, public, and private health care institutions that are repositories of medical expertise and information. Id. 1 3 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). Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D. C. 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CYB402, Washington, D. C. 20554, telephone: 202- 488- 5300, fax: 202- 488- 5563, or via e- mail: fcc@ bcpiweb. com. This matter shall be treated as a “permit- but- disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 5 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required. 6 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. 7 For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Erika Olsen, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418- 2868, or via e- mail erika. olsen@ fcc. gov. - FCC - 5 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 6 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b)( 2). 7 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). 3