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 09-2558 Released: December 8, 2009 COMMENT SOUGHT ON THE NATIONAL CABLE & TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION PETITION FOR RULEMAKING TO REDUCE UNIVERSAL SERVICE HIGH- COST SUPPORT PROVIDED TO CARRIERS IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS EXTENSIVE UNSUBSIDIZED FACILITIES-BASED VOICE COMPETITION GN Docket No. 09-51 WC Docket No. 05-337 RM-11584 Comment Date: January 7, 2010 Reply Comment Date: January 22, 2010 On November 5, 2009, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) filed a petition for rulemaking proposing new rules for universal service high-cost support.1 Specifically, NCTA proposes that the Commission establish procedures to reduce the amount of universal service high-cost support provided to carriers in those areas of the country where there is extensive, unsubsidized facilities- based voice competition and where government subsidies no longer are needed to ensure that service will be made available to consumers.2 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on NCTA’s petition. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before January 7, 2010 and reply comments on or before January 22, 2010. All pleadings are to reference WC Docket No. 05-337, GN Docket No. 09-51, and RM-11584. Comments may be filed using: (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 1 See 47 C.F.R § 1.401; National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Reducing Universal Service Support in Geographic Areas that are Experiencing Unsupported Facilities-Based Competition, Petition for Rulemaking, GN Docket No. 09-51 and WC Docket No. 05-337 (filed Nov. 5, 2009) (Petition). 2 See Petition at 1. 2 § 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. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. § Effective December 28, 2009, all hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. PLEASE NOTE: Through December 24, 2009, the Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. This filing location will be permanently closed after December 24, 2009. The filing hours at both locations are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. § 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 must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 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) Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-C408, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Gary.Seigel@fcc.gov; (3) Katie King, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B544, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Katie.King@fcc.gov; (4) Theodore Burmeister, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B438, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: Theodore.Burmeister@fcc.gov; 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. 3 This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.3 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.4 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.5 For further information, please contact Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at 202-418-7400 or TTY 202-418-0484. - FCC - 3 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 4 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 5 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).