*Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 55912.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 649 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of July 2006 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) WCB/ Pricing File No. 06- 15 Order Adopted: March 24, 2006 Released: March 24, 2006 By the Chief, Pricing Policy Division: SHORT FORM TRP: May 1, 2006 COMMENTS: May 17, 2006 REPLIES: May 24, 2006 15- DAY TARIFF FILINGS: June 16, 2006 EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2006 PETITIONS: June 23, 2006 REPLIES: June 29, 2006 7- DAY TARIFF FILINGS: June 26, 2006 EFFECTIVE: July 3, 2006 PETITIONS: June 28, 2006 REPLIES: June 29, 2006 I. INTRODUCTION 1. This order establishes procedures for the 2006 filing of annual access charge tariffs and Tariff Review Plans (TRPs) by all incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). This order (1) sets a modified effective date of July 3, 2006 for the July 2006 annual tariff filings made on seven days’ notice; (2) establishes the dates on which the tariff filings must be made; (3) establishes the dates and times for filing petitions to suspend or reject the ILEC tariff filings and replies to such petitions; and (4) addresses service of the petitions and replies. It further sets the date that price cap carriers must file the short form TRP. 1 All correspondence and comments in connection with these filings should refer to the caption of 1 The price cap ILECs that must file a short form TRP on May 1, 2006, are ALLTEL Telephone System; Ameritech Operating Companies; BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.; CenturyTel Operating Companies; Cincinnati Bell Telephone; Citizens Telecommunications Companies; Frontier Communications of Minnesota and Iowa; Frontier Communications of Rochester; Hawaiian Telecom, Inc.; Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc.; Micronesian Telecommunications, Corp.; Nevada Bell Telephone Company; Pacific Bell Telephone Company; Qwest (continued....) 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 649 2 this proceeding, July 2006 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings, WCB/ Pricing File No. 06- 15. 2 II. DISCUSSION A. Tariff Effective Date and Tariff Filing Dates 2. ILECs are permitted to make their tariff filings either 15 or seven days prior to the effective date of their tariffs, depending on the type of changes the tariffs propose. 3 The Commission’s rules require that annual access tariff filings must be filed with a scheduled effective date of July 1. 4 ILECs wishing to file tariffs on 15 days’ notice therefore must make their annual tariff filings on June 16, 2006. ILECs wishing to file tariffs on seven days’ notice, however, would have to file those tariffs on June 24, a Saturday, in order for them to take effect July 1. Because the Commission is closed on Saturdays, it is necessary to modify the usual July 1 tariff effective date for these tariffs. Accordingly, the July 2006 effective date for ILEC annual access tariffs filed on seven days’ notice is modified to be July 3, 2006 and ILECs must make these tariff filings on June 26, 2006. 5 3. ILECs that file tariffs under the price cap ratemaking methodology are required to file revised annual access tariffs every year. 6 ILECs that file tariffs under the rate- of- return ratemaking methodology are required to file every other year. Further, ILECs filing pursuant to the requirements of section 61.38 of the Commission’s rules 7 are required to file in even- numbered years, 8 and those filing pursuant to section 61.39 of the Commission’s rules 9 are required to file in odd- numbered years and are not required to submit supporting material with the revised tariff. 10 Because 2006 is an even- numbered year, only the price cap ILECs and the ILECs filing pursuant to section 61. 38 are required to file revised access tariffs this year. Any rate- of- return ILEC subject to section 61.39 may elect to make a voluntary tariff filing at this time. B. Tariff Review Plan Filing Dates 4. Price cap ILECs are required to submit both a short form TRP and a long- form TRP. Section 61.49( k) of the Commission’s rules requires price cap carriers to file a short form TRP without rate detail information 90 days prior to the usual effective date of July 1. 11 For this year’s filing, we (... continued from previous page) Corporation; Southern New England Telephone; Southwestern Bell Telephone; Sprint Local Telephone Companies; Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC; and Verizon Telephone Companies. 2 Even though this year’s annual access tariff filing proceeding will have two different effective dates, correspondence and comments in connection with these filings should refer to the caption July 2006 Annual Access Charge Tariff Filings, WCB/ Pricing File No. 06- 15. 3 47 U. S. C. §204( a)( 3). 4 47 C. F. R. § 69.3( a). 5 We waive any inconsistent portions of section 69. 3( a) of the Commission’s rules. 47 C. F. R. § 69. 3( a). 6 47 C. F. R. § 61.43. 7 47 C. F. R. § 61.38. 8 47 C. F. R. § 69. 3( f)( 1). 9 47 C. F. R. § 61. 39. 10 47 C. F. R. §§ 61.39, 69.3( f)( 2). 11 47 C. F. R. § 61.49( k). 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 649 3 require that this short form TRP be filed on May 1, 2006. 12 Rate- of- return ILECs subject to section 61.38 must file a rate- of- return TRP with their annual access tariff filing in June 2006. We will issue a separate order that will provide the details of the price cap short form and regular TRPs as well as the rate- of- return TRP. Comments on the short form TRP will be due on May 17, 2006. Replies will be due May 24, 2006. C. Tariff and Tariff Review Plan Filing Instructions 5. ILECs must use the Commission’s Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS) to file all of their tariff material. 13 ILECs should make every effort to file as early in the day as possible in order to avoid any complications in meeting the May 1, 2006, June 16, 2006, and June 26, 2006, pre- 7: 00 p. m. deadlines for filing with the ETFS. Price cap ILEC short form TRP filings must be received by ETFS after 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on April 28, 2006 and before 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on May 1, 2006 for the filing to be considered officially received on May 1, 2006. ILEC tariff filings must be received by ETFS after 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on June 15, 2006 and before 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2006 for the filing to be considered officially received on June 16, 2006. ILEC tariff filings must be received by ETFS after 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2006 and before 7: 00 p. m. Eastern Time on June 26, 2006 for the filing to be considered officially received on June 26, 2006. 6. Carriers are no longer asked to provide TRPs or other cost support information on diskette or CD- ROM. 7. Copies of the information filed electronically may be obtained via the Internet using the ETFS at http:// svartifoss2. fcc. gov/ prod/ ccb/ etfs, 14 or from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., (202) 488- 5300, Portals II, at 445 12 th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC 20554. For more information on any of the cost support, contact Raj Kannan at (202) 418- 1540, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. D. Pleading Filing Dates and Procedures 8. In accordance with the tariff filing schedule, petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made on 15 days’ notice will be due June 23, 2006, and replies will be due June 29, 2006. Petitions to suspend or reject tariff filings made on seven days’ notice will be due by 12: 00 p. m. (noon) Eastern Time on June 28, 2006, and replies will be due no later than 12: 00 p. m. (noon) Eastern Time on June 29, 2006. 15 9. Parties filing pleadings are encouraged to use ETFS in order to facilitate access to these documents. Comments and replies should reference WCB/ Pricing File No. 06- 15. Parties filing paper copies must file an original and four (4) copies of each filing. 10. Paper 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 and the Commission advises that electronic media NOT be sent through the U. S. Postal Service). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. 12 We waive any inconsistent portions of section 61. 49( k) of the Commission’s rules. 47 C. F. R. § 61. 49( k). 13 47 C. F. R. § 61.13( b). 14 Users may also use the alternate site for accessing ETFS at http:// gullfoss2. fcc. gov/ prod/ ccb/ etfs/. 15 We waive any inconsistent portions of sections 1. 4( f) and 1.773( b) of the Commission’s rules. 3 Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 649 5 17. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1. 3 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1. 3, section 1.47( d) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.47( d), IS WAIVED for the purpose specified in paragraph 13 supra. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Tamara L. Preiss Chief, Pricing Policy Division Wireline Competition Bureau 5