Federal Communications Commission DA 06-2577 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime ) ) ) ) ) CC Docket No. 01-92 ORDER Adopted: December 22, 2006 Released: December 22, 2006 Revised Filing Date: Reply Comments Due: February 1, 2007 By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau: 1. On July 24, 2006, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC’s) Task Force on Intercarrier Competition filed an intercarrier compensation reform plan (the “Missoula Plan”).1 On July 25, 2006, the Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) released a Public Notice requesting that comments on the Missoula Plan be filed by September 25, 2006, and reply comments by November 9, 2006.2 On August 29, 2006, WCB released an order granting extensions of the comment and reply comment dates to October 25, 2006 and December 11, 2006, respectively.3 On November 17, 2006, NARUC filed a motion requesting a further extension of the reply comment date to January 11, 2007, which was granted.4 2. On December 20, 2006, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Montana Public Service Commission, the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the Vermont Department of Public Service, the Vermont Public Service Board, and the Wyoming Public Service Commission (the “Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions”) filed a Motion for Extension of Time requesting an additional extension of the comment cycle for the Missoula Plan.5 In 1 Letter from Tony Clark, Commissioner and Chair, NARUC Committee on Telecommunications; Ray Baum, Commissioner and Chair, NARUC Task Force on Intercarrier Compensation; and Larry Landis, Commissioner and Vice-Chair, NARUC Task Force on Intercarrier Compensation, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, CC Docket No. 01-92 (filed July 24, 2006) (attaching the Missoula Plan). 2 Comment Sought on Missoula Intercarrier Compensation Reform Plan, Public Notice, CC Docket No. 01-92, DA 06-1510 (WCB, July 25, 2006) (Missoula Plan Public Notice). See 71 Fed. Reg. 45510. 3 Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime, Order, CC Docket No. 01-92, DA 06-1730 (WCB, Aug. 29, 2006) (Missoula Plan Comment Extension Order). See 71 Fed. Reg. 54008. 4 See Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime, Order, CC Docket No. 01-92, DA 06-2339 (WCB Nov. 20, 2006). See 71 Fed. Reg. 70709. 5 Motion of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Montana Public Service Commission, the Nebraska Public Service Commission, the Vermont Department of Public Service, the Vermont Public Service Board, and the Wyoming Public Service Commission for Extension of Time, CC Docket (continued....) Federal Communications Commission DA 06-2577 2 support of their Motion, the Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions explain that they are engaged in modeling proposed modifications to the Missoula Plan that could allow them to support it, but cannot collect and evaluate the necessary data by the current filing deadline.6 In addition, they state that more time is necessary to accurately estimate the effects of the Missoula Plan and evaluate the impact of certain modifications.7 The Motion requests that the Commission extend the time for all reply comments by 21 days to February 1, 2007.8 3. We agree that providing additional time to file reply comments will facilitate the development of a more accurate and complete record in this proceeding. We note that it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.9 Given the extensive nature of the record and the potential effects of the Missoula Plan, however, we find that good cause exists to provide parties an extension of time, from January 11, 2007 to February 1, 2007 for filing reply comments in this proceeding. In particular, we appreciate the importance of the issues raised in the Missoula Plan to the Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions and other state commissions, and we agree that the additional time we grant here will give parties the time necessary to more accurately estimate the effects of the Missoula Plan and proposed modifications under consideration. 4. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), and 5(c) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), 155(c), and sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, the pleading cycle established in this matter shall be modified as follows: Reply Comments Due: February 1, 2007 All other filing procedures remain unchanged from those previously established in this proceeding.10 5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Motion of the Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions for Extension of Time is GRANTED, as set forth herein. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Thomas J. Navin Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau (...continued from previous page) No. 01-92 (filed Dec. 20, 2006) (Early Adopter Motion). The Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions represent that the Missoula Plan proponents do not object to the Early Adopter Motion. Id. at 4. 6 Id. at 3. 7 Id. The Early Adopter Regulatory Commissions explain that the Missoula Plan would affect local rates and state universal service policies. Id. at 2. 8 Id. 9 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a). 10 See Missoula Plan Public Notice at 1-2; Missoula Plan Comment Extension Order at 2.