Federal Communications Commission	DA 18-670


Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of

The Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund

Connect America Fund

ETC Annual Reports and Certifications
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WC Docket No. 18-143


WC Docket No. 10-90

WC Docket No. 14-58

ORDER

Adopted:  June 27, 2018	Released:  June 27, 2018

Revised Comment Date: July 26, 2018
Revised Reply Comment Date: August 8, 2018

By the Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:

1. By this Order, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments in response to the Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Rulemaking until July 26, 2018 and August 8, 2018, respectively. Uniendo a Puerto Rico and the Connect USVI Fund Rulemaking, et al., Order, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 18-57 (2018) (Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Rulemaking).
  
2. The Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Rulemaking was published in the federal register on June 13, 2018 setting dates for filing comments and reply comments of July 5 and July 18, 2018, respectively.  Federal Communications Commission, The Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund, Connect America Fund, ETC Annual Reports and Certifications, Proposed Rule, 83 Fed. Reg. 27528 (June 13, 2018).
  On June 22, 2018, Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC) filed a motion requesting a three-week extension of the comment and reply comment deadline in this proceeding. Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Motion for Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 18-143 (filed June 22, 2018) (PRTC Motion).
  PRTC asserts that an extension “necessary due to the complexity of the issues presented by the proposals in the [Uniendo a Puerto Rico Fund and the Connect USVI Fund Rulemaking] at a time when affected carriers are engaged in massive post-hurricane restoration efforts.” PRTC Motion at 1.
  No one has opposed the request. 
3. While it is the policy of the Commission that “extensions shall not be routinely granted,” 47 CFR § 1.46(a).
  we find that an extension of the comment deadlines is appropriate in this case to allow interested parties adequate time to respond.  We find that an additional three weeks is an appropriate period of time to extend the comment deadlines in order to provide parties additional time to analyze the complex technical, legal, and policy considerations raised by the proceeding.  This is especially true for carriers who are focused on rebuilding and restoring services following the devastating 2017 hurricane season. We find that permitting interested parties an additional three weeks in which to file their comments will allow parties to provide the Commission with more thorough comments, ensuring that the Commission has a complete record on which to develop its decisions.  
4. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), 5, and 303(r) of the Communications Act, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), 155, and 303(r), and sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, and 1.415 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, and 1.415, that the PRTC Motion for Extension of Time, IS GRANTED, and the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments are extended to July 26, 2018 and August 8, 2018.


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




Kris Monteith
Chief 
Wireline Competition Bureau

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