Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1168
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
High-Cost Universal Service Support
Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
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WC Docket No. 05-337
CC Docket No. 96-45
ORDER
Adopted:  May 15, 2008 Released:  May 15, 2008
Revised Filing Date:
Reply Comments Due:  June 2, 2008
By the Acting Associate Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. On January 29, 2008, the Commission released three Notices of Proposed Rulemaking 
(collectively, Notices), seeking comment regarding the high-cost universal service support program.1  On 
March 4, 2008, summaries of the Notices appeared in the Federal Register, setting a comment cycle of 
April 3, 2008 for comments and May 5, 2008 for reply comments.2 The Wireline Competition Bureau 
later extended the pleading cycle, setting a comment cycle of May 5, 2008, for comments and May 19, 
2008, for reply comments.3  On May 1, 2008, six associations jointly filed a motion for a three week 
extension of the reply comment deadline.4 The associations state that grant of an extension will allow 
  
1 High-Cost Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, WC Docket No. 05-337, 
CC Docket No. 96-45, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 1467 (2008) (Identical Support Rule NPRM); 
High-Cost Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC 
Docket No. 96-45, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 1495 (2008) (Reverse Auctions NPRM); High-Cost 
Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket 
No. 96-45, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 23 FCC Rcd 1531 (2008) (Joint Board Comprehensive Reform NPRM).
2 See Identical Support Rule NPRM, 73 Fed. Reg. 11580 (Mar. 4, 2008); Reverse Auctions NPRM, 73 Fed. Reg. 
11591 (Mar. 4, 2008); Joint Board Comprehensive Reform NPRM, 73 Fed. Reg. 11587 (Mar. 4, 2008).  In a public 
notice announcing the establishment of comment cycles, it was noted that parties may file consolidated comments 
and reply comments in response to all three Notices.  Comment Cycles Established for Commission’s Notices of 
Proposed Rulemaking Regarding the Identical Support Rule, the Use of Reverse Auctions to Set High-Cost 
Universal Service Support, and the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service’s Recommendations for 
Comprehensive Reform of High-Cost Universal Service Support, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket No. 96-45, 
Public Notice, DA 08-499 (Wireline Comp. Bur., rel. Mar. 4, 2008).
3 High-Cost Universal Service Support, Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, WC Docket No. 05-337, 
CC Docket No. 96-45, Order, DA 08-674 (Wireline Comp. Bur., rel. Mar. 24, 2008).
4 Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance (ITTA), National Exchange Carrier Association 
(NECA), National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA), Organization for the Promotion and 
Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), United States Telecom Association 
(USTelecom) and Western Alliance (WTA) Motion for Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket No. 
96-45 (filed May 1, 2008) (Motion).
Federal Communications Commission DA 08-1168
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parties to develop well-considered and thorough responses to the substantial record amassed in this 
proceeding, and will not cause prejudice to any party.5
2. We note that it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely 
granted.6 The associations indicate that an extension will provide commenters with sufficient time to 
fully review, assess, and respond comprehensively to the Notices.7 We agree with the associations, and 
find that an extension of the reply comment deadline in this proceeding is appropriate under these 
circumstances.  We find, however, that two additional weeks is sufficient time for commenters to 
complete their reply comments.  The deadline for filing reply comments in response to the Notices is 
extended from May 19, 2008 to June 2, 2008.
3. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), and 5(c) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 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:  June 2, 2008
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Jeremy D. Marcus
Acting Associate Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
  
5 Id. at 1.  The National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) and the national Association 
of Regulatory Utility Commissioners filed in support of the Motion.  See Letter from David C. Bergmann, Assistant 
Consumers’ Counsel, Chair, NASUCA Telecommunications Committee, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, CC 
Docket 96-45, WC Docket No. 05-337 (filed May 6, 2008); Letter from James Bradford Ramsey, General Counsel, 
and Grace Soderberg, Assistant General Counsel, NARUC, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, CC Docket No. 
96-45, WC Docket No. 05-337 (filed May 13, 2008).
6 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).
7 Motion at 2 (noting that over 90 parties filed comments in response to the Notices).