PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, 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 08-1904 August 13, 2008 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU GRANTS EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE COMMENTS ON AT&T’S PETITION FOR AN INTERIM DECLARATORY RULING AND LIMITED WAIVERS WC Docket No. 08-152 Comments Due: August 21, 2008 Reply Comments Due: September 2, 2008 On July 17, 2008, AT&T filed a petition that, absent “comprehensive reform,” seeks interim declaratory ruling and limited waivers regarding access charges.1 Specifically, AT&T asks the Commission to “clarify the applicability of access charges to interexchange” Internet protocol/public switched telephone network (IP/PSTN) traffic.2 In addition, AT&T seeks “limited waivers of [the Commission’s] rules governing [subscriber line charges] and switched access charges.” 3 On July 24, 2008, the Commission established a pleading cycle for comments on the AT&T Petition.4 The current deadline for comments is August 14, 2008, and the current deadline for reply comments is August 25, 2008. On August 6, 2008, COMPTEL, on behalf of its member companies, filed a Motion for Extension of Time.5 On August 8, 2008, the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance (ITTA), National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA), Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), and the Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) (collectively, the Associations) filed a Motion for Consolidation of 1 See Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waivers, WC Docket No. 08-152, at 3-4 (filed July 17, 2008) (AT&T Petition). 2 Id. at 26-41. 3 Id. at 42-50. 4 Petition of AT&T for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waivers Pleading Cycle Established, Public Notice, WC Docket No. 08-152, DA 08-1725 (WCB rel. July 24, 2008). 5 Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Motion for Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 08-152 (filed Aug. 6, 2008) (COMPTEL Motion). 2 Proceedings and Extension of Filing Deadline.6 On August 8, 2008, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) also filed a Motion for Extension of Time.7 In support of their motions, COMPTEL and NARUC explain that the current deadline does not allow enough time for them to complete an analysis and provide comments on the important issues raised by the AT&T Petition.8 In addition, NARUC claims that the extension of time will serve the public interest by ensuring that the state commissions will be able to participate in the proceeding.9 COMPTEL states that an extension of time will not prejudice other parties in this proceeding.10 We note that it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.11 However, given the complexity of the issues, the additional time will give all interested parties additional time to file comments, which should lead to a more complete and better-informed record. We thus find that good cause exists to provide all parties an extension of time from August 14, 2008 to August 21, 2008 for filing comments in this proceeding and from August 25, 2008 to September 2, 2008 for filing reply comments in this proceeding. For further information, contact Victoria Goldberg, Attorney Advisor, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1520. - FCC - 6 Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Petition for Waiver of Embarq Local Operating Companies of Sections 61.3 and 61.44-61.48 of the Commission’s Rules, and any Associated Rules Necessary to Permit it to Unify Switched Access Charges Between Interstate and Intrastate Jurisdictions, Motion for Consolidation of Proceedings and Extension of Filing Deadline, WC Docket Nos. 08-152, 08-160 (filed Aug. 8, 2008) (the Associations’ Motion). 7 Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Motion for Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 08-152 (filed Aug. 8, 2008) (NARUC Motion). 8 See COMPTEL Motion at 2; NARUC Motion at 3. 9 NARUC Motion at 3. 10 COMPTEL Motion at 2. 11 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).