PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 09-1246 Release Date: June 5, 2009 COMMENT SOUGHT ON REQUEST TO MERGE NORTH CAROLINA RURAL HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM PROJECTS WC Docket No. 02-60 Comment Date: June 19, 2009 Reply Comment Date: June 26, 2009 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge four participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program (RHC Pilot Program): (1) the North Carolina TeleHealth Network (NCTN); (2) Albemarle Health (Albemarle);1 (3) Western Carolina University (WCU); and (4) University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina (UHS).2 The participants request to merge their respective projects and designate NCTN as the successor to Albemarle, WCU, and UHS.3 The Cabarrus Health Alliance will serve as the project coordinator for the merged project.4 Interested parties may file comments on or before June 19, 2009, and reply comments on or before June 26, 2009. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 02-60. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), or by filing paper copies.5 1 Albemarle Health is the fiduciary agent for the Albemarle Network Telemedicine Initiative. Albemarle Network Telemedicine Initiative Application, WC Docket No. 02-60 (filed May 4, 2007). 2 Letter from J. David Kirby, President, KirbyIMC, to Thomas Buckley, Senior Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 02-60 (dated May 13, 2009) (May 13 Letter); Letter from Dr. William F. Pilkington, Director, Cabarrus Health Alliance, to Thomas Buckley, Senior Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 02-60 (dated May 4, 2009) (May 4 Letter); Letter from Stephen W. Clark, FACHE, Chief Information Officer, Albemarle Health, to Thomas Buckley, Senior Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 02-60 (dated May 12, 2009); Letter from Bill Gibson, Executive Director, Southwestern Commission, to Thomas Buckley, Senior Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 02-60 (dated May 5, 2009); Letter from Stuart James, Chief Information Officer, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, to Thomas Buckley, Senior Deputy Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 02-60 (dated May 12, 2009). 3 See May 13 Letter at 1-2; May 4 Letter at 1. 4 May 13 Letter at 1. 2 § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. § For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. 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). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington D.C. 20554. 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). In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to each of the following: (1) The Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, www.bcpiweb.com; phone: (202) 488-5300 fax: (202) 488- 5563; (2) Jamie Susskind, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-A226, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Jamie.Susskind@fcc.gov; and (3) Antoinette Stevens, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B521, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Antoinette.Stevens@fcc.gov. 5 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 3 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 CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300, fax: (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail www.bcpiweb.com. This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.6 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.7 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.8 For further information, please contact Jamie Susskind, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484. - FCC - 6 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 7 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 8 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).