Federal Communications Commission DA 19-579 DA 19-579 Released: June 20, 2019 COMMENTS SOUGHT ON PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING OF NORTHEAST IOWA TELEPHONE COMPANY AND WESTERN IOWA TELEPHONE ASSOCIATION WC Docket No. 10-90 COMMENTS DUE: July 10, 2019 REPLY COMMENTS DUE: July 25, 2019 By this Public Notice and in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 1.2 of the Commission’s rules, we seek comment on a joint petition filed on May 6, 2019, by Northeast Iowa Telephone Co. and Western Iowa Telephone Association (petitioners), requesting that the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) issue a clarification or declaratory ruling “on the definition of locations under the Alternative Connect America Cost Model (“A-CAM”) for residences that also serve as businesses.” Joint Petition of Northeast Iowa Telephone Co. and Western Iowa Telephone Association, Petition for Clarification or Declaratory Ruling on the Definition of Location for Home Offices Under the Connect America Fund-Alternative Connect America Cost Model, WC Docket 10-90 (May 6, 2019) (Petition). Under section 1.2 of the Commission’s rules, the Commission may “on motion or on its own motion issue a declaratory ruling terminating a controversy or removing uncertainty.” 47 CFR § 1.2. Interested parties may file comments on the Petition on or before July 10, 2019 and reply comments on or before July 25, 2019. Filings in this proceeding should be captioned “Northeast Iowa Telephone Company and Western Iowa Telephone Association, Petition for Declaratory Ruling” and filed in WC Docket No. 10-90. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). Parties are strongly encouraged to file comments electronically using the Commission’s ECFS. Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. Paper Filings. 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, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. · Hand or Messenger Delivery. 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. · Commercial Overnight Mail. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. · U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail. US postal service mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington D.C. 20554. Additional Copies. Parties should send a separate copy of their filings to Nissa Laughner, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 5-B444, Washington D.C. 20554, or by e-mail to Nissa.Laughner@fcc.gov and to Gilbert.Smith@fcc.gov. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) for people with disabilities, send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Permit but Disclose Ex Parte Communications. This Public Notice establishes certain procedural requirements relating to consideration of the petition for declaratory ruling. This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. For the purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules, each petition submitted pursuant to section 214(e)(6) will be treated as initiating a permit-but-disclose proceeding under the Commission’s rules. See 47 CFR § 1.1206. 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). Id. § 1.2016(b)(2)(iii). Persons 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. Id. § 1.206(b)(1). 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. Id. 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). Id. § 1.1206(b)(2). 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). Id. § 1.1206(b)(2)(i); see also id. § 1.49(f). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, contact Nissa Laughner at (202) 418-1358 or Nissa.Laughner@fcc.gov, or Gilbert Smith at (202) 418-0586 or Gilbert.Smith@fcc.gov, both of the Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. - FCC - 3