PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0513 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 13-193 Released: February 12, 2013 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS TO TELCOMASTER TABLE FOR CONNECT AMERICA COST MODEL WC Docket No. 10-90 Comment Date: March 14, 2013 The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) hereby seeks comment to confirm the attribution of price cap carrier operating company wire centers to particular holding companies for purposes of Connect America Phase II implementation. The USF/ICC Transformation Order adopted a framework for providing ongoing support to areas served by price cap carriers, including areas where broadband-capable infrastructure does not exist, known as Connect America Phase II.1 As a part of this framework, the Commission directed the Bureau to develop a forward-looking model to “estimate the cost of a modern voice and broadband capable network.”2 The Bureau has sought public input on the design of the forward-looking cost model,3 and on January 17, 2013, the Bureau announced the release of Connect America Cost Model version two (CACM v2.0) that allows Commission staff and interested parties to calculate costs based on a series of inputs and assumptions for Connect America Phase II implementation.4 1 Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011) (USF/ICC Transformation Order), pets. for review pending sub nom. In re: FCC 11-161, No. 11-9900 (10th Cir. filed Dec. 8, 2011). 2 USF/ICC Transformation Order, 26 FCC Rcd at 17735, para. 184. 3 In June 2012, the Bureau sought comment on a number of cost model threshold issues. See Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Model Design and Data Inputs for Phase II of the Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 6147 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012). On October 9, 2012, the Bureau announced the commencement of the Phase II Cost Model virtual workshop to solicit input and facilitate discussion on topics related to the development and adoption of the forward-looking cost model. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Commencement of Connect America Phase II Cost Model Virtual Workshop, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 11977 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012). See also Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Connect America Phase II Cost Model Virtual Workshop, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 11056 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012). To date, parties have commented on 18 different topics in the virtual workshop. See WCB Cost Model Virtual Workshop, http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/connecting-america (follow link to the Cost Model Virtual Workshop). 4 Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Availability of Version Two of the Connect America Fund Phase II Cost Model, WC Docket No. 10-90, Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd 280 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2013). The Bureau had previously announced the availability of version one of the Connect America Cost Model on December 11, 2012. See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Availability of Version One of the Connect America Fund Phase II Cost Model, WC Docket Nos. 10-90, 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 15356 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012). 2Today, the Bureau solicits public input on an updated version of the TelcoMaster table that will be used in a subsequent version of CACM. CACM reflects the assigned serving wire center boundaries and subsequent state totals based on the boundary designations for each serving wire center. The TelcoMaster table provides the holding company name associated with the serving wire centers for the entire nation and lists the following data: • Service Area • State • Operating Company Number • Company Name • Study Area Code • Study Area Name • Rate-of-Return or Price Cap – Connect America-Specific We seek comment on whether any adjustments should be made to the TelcoMaster table data for the price cap carrier wire centers.5 Specifically, does the TelcoMaster table identify the correct holding company ownership of the listed price cap carrier wire centers? There are also several Alaskan wire centers where the holding company is unknown and the company name is listed as “UnderStudyforCorrection.” Which holding companies should be associated with these wire centers? To the extent carriers or other parties identify any errors or omissions in the TelcoMaster table data, please provide correct information. Parties who have signed the Third Supplemental Protective Order may view the TelcoMaster table by accessing the model at http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/caf-phase-ii-models, and visiting the Posted Data Sets.6 Paperwork Reduction Act. This document does not contain proposed information collection(s) subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107- 198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4). Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA),7 the Bureau prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), included as part of the Model Design Public Notice, 8 of the possible significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities by the policies and rules proposed in these Public Notices and the information posted online in the Virtual Workshops. We have reviewed the IRFA and have determined 5 Because CACM is designed to set support for price cap carrier areas, the Bureau is not seeking updates for rate-of- return carrier wire centers, even though they are listed in this table. 6 See Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Third Supplemental Protective Order, 27 FCC Rcd 15277 (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012). 7 5 U.S.C. § 603. The RFA, see U.S.C. § 601-612, has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996). 8 Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Model Design and Data Inputs for Phase II of the Connect America Fund, WC Docket Nos. 10-90 and 05-337, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 6147, 6177, 6179, para. 110, App. (Wireline Comp. Bur. 2012) (Model Design Public Notice). 3that it does not need to be supplemented. We invite parties to file comments on the IRFA in light of this additional notice. Filing Requirements. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated above.9 Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).10 · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. 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. o 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. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of before entering the building. o 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. o 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, we request that one copy of each pleading be sent to each of the following: (1) Heidi Lankau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 5-B511, Washington, DC 20554; e-mail: Heidi.Lankau@fcc.gov; and (2) Charles Tyler, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 5-A452, Washington, DC 20554; e-mail: Charles.Tyler@fcc.gov. The proceeding this Notice initiates shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules.11 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). 9 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419. 10 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 11 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 4Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, please contact Heidi Lankau, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418-2876 or TTY (202) 418-0484.