Federal Communications Commission DA 15-885
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization
Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for 
Universal Service Support
Connect America Fund
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WC Docket No. 11-42
WC Docket No. 09-197
WC Docket No. 10-90
ORDER
Adopted:  August 5, 2015 Released:  August 5, 2015
Extended Comment Filing Deadline: August 31, 2015
Extended Reply Comment Filing Deadline: September 30, 2015
By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. On June 18, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission adopted a Second Further 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second FNPRM) in which the Commission sought comment and reply 
comment on proposals to modernize the Lifeline program.1 The Second FNPRM set the deadline for 
filing comments at 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register and reply comments at 60 days 
after its publication in the Federal Register.2 On July 17, 2015, the Second FNPRM was published in the 
Federal Register and the Wireline Competition Bureau released a Public Notice that announced the 
deadline for filing comments as August 17, 2015, and the deadline for filing reply comments as 
September 15, 2015.3
2. On July 31, the California Public Utilities Commission (California PUC) filed a motion 
to extend the established comment and reply comment deadlines by 30 days.4 The California PUC argues 
a 30-day extension is in the public interest because it will need more time to fully evaluate and respond to 
several sections in the Second FNPRM that reference California’s state Lifeline program and discuss the 
potential interplay between federal and state support programs.5
3. Also on July 31, the United States Telecom Association, CTIA – The Wireless 
Association, and ITTA – The Voice of Mid-Size Communications Companies (ITTA) filed a joint request 
  
1 See Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, et al., WC Docket No. 11-42, et al., Second Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking, Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order, and Memorandum Opinion and Order, 
FCC 15-71 (rel. June 22, 2015) (Lifeline Reform and Modernization Second FNPRM).
2 Id.
3 Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization, Telecommunications Carriers Eligible for Universal Service 
Support, Connect America Fund, 80 Fed. Reg. 42670 (July 17, 2015); Lifeline and Link Up Reform and 
Modernization, et al., WC Docket No. 11-42, et al., Public Notice, DA 15-828 (July 17, 2015).
4 Motion of the California Public Utilities Commission for Extension of Time to Respond to Second Further Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 09-197, 10-90 (filed July 31, 2015).
5 See id. at 2-5.
Federal Communications Commission DA 15-885
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to extend the established comment and reply comment deadlines by 30 days.6 The joint petitioners argue 
that a 30-day extension is in the public interest as it allows them to develop meaningful, substantive 
responses in this “unusually complex” proceeding.7 As a result, the joint petitioners state that a more 
robust record will be developed if a 30-day extension is granted.8
4. On August 3, the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) 
also filed a motion to extend the comment and reply comment deadlines by 30 days.9 NASUCA argues 
that an extension would serve the public interest because the Second FNPRM includes “questions 
covering nearly every conceivable aspect of designing a Lifeline program for broadband,” and it is 
“critical that the Commission receives comments that are thoroughly considered, taking the full 
complexity of the issues into account.”10
5. The Commission does not routinely grant extensions of time.11 However, given the 
breadth and complexity of the Second FNPRM, we find that granting a 14-day extension to the comment 
filing deadline and a 15-day extension to the reply comment filing deadline will facilitate more thorough 
and deliberate consideration of the issues raised in this proceeding.12 Though we recognize that the 
petitioners requested 30-day extensions of both the comment and reply comment deadlines, we are 
committed to resolving the issues raised in the Second FNPRM in a timely manner. We therefore 
conclude that the limited extensions we grant today will allow for more thoughtful consideration of the 
issues raised in the Second FNPRM, while at the same time not unduly delaying the resolution of these 
issues. 
6. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 4(i) and 4(j) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i) and 154(j), and Sections 0.91, 0.291, 
1.46, and 1.415 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, and 1.415, the motion of the 
California Public Utilities Commission, the joint request of United States Telecom Association, CTIA –
The Wireless Association, and ITTA – The Voice of Mid-Size Communications Companies, and the 
motion of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates ARE GRANTED to the extent 
indicated herein and the deadlines to file comments in this proceeding are extended to August 31, 2015, 
and reply comments to September 30, 2015.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Matthew S. DelNero
Chief
Wireline Competition Bureau
  
6 Joint Request for Extension of the United States Telecom Association, CTIA – The Wireless Association, and 
ITTA, WC Docket Nos. 11-42, 09-197, and 10-90 (filed July 31, 2015).
7 Id. at 2-3.
8 Id. at 3-4.
9 Motion of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates for Extension of Time, WC Docket Nos. 
11-42, 09-197, and 10-90 (filed Aug. 3, 2015).
10 Id. at 2.
11 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).
12 The deadline for filing reply comments will be extended by 15 days to preserve the 30-day time span between 
comment and reply comment deadlines, as established in the Second FNPRM.  See Lifeline Reform and 
Modernization Second FNPRM at 1.