Federal Communications Commission DA 21-597 DA 21-597 Released: May 20, 2021 Comment Date: June 21, 2021 Reply Comment July 6, 2021 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON COMCAST PETITION FOR WAIVER REGARDING ITS LIFT ZONE INITIATIVE CC Docket No. 02-6 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a petition for waiver filed by Comcast Corporation and its affiliates (Comcast) requesting that the Federal Communications Commission waive certain E-Rate rules to allow it to conduct a pilot program with several libraries to expand its “Lift Zone” initiative. Petition for Waiver of Comcast Corporation, CC Docket No. 02-6 (filed May 12, 2021), https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filing/10512183336582. Comcast states that its Lift Zone initiative is designed to address the Homework Gap and the digital divide by setting up safe places where students and members of the community may use Internet services to participate in remote learning and complete homework assignments. Id. at 1-2. Comcast proposes to partner with seven selected library systems to establish Lift Zones and will provide the libraries with: (1) complimentary Business Internet connection; (2) business-grade, high capacity Wi-Fi Pro service which simplifies the set-up and management of the Wi-Fi network; and (3) Security Edge service which protects Lift Zone users from cyberthreats and inappropriate content. Id. at 6 Comcast is requesting a waiver of sections 54.503(d)(1) and 54.523 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 54.503(d)(1), 54.523. and any other Commission rules necessary, to be able to establish Lift Zones at these selected library systems. Filing Instructions. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. See 47 CFR § 1.4(j) (filing dates that would otherwise fall on a holiday shall be filed on the next business day). All filings should refer to CC Docket No. 02-6. Comments may be filed by paper or by using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. · Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. · Filings can be sent 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 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. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington DC 20554. · Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Filing, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 2788 (2020). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCC has closed its current hand-delivery filing location at FCC Headquarters. We encourage outside parties to take full advantage of the Commission’s electronic filing system. Any party that is unable to meet the filing deadline due to the building closure may request a waiver of the comment or reply comment deadline, to the extent permitted by law. 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. Ex Parte Rules. Proceedings in this Notice shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200(a), 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). 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. 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 these proceedings should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, please contact Gregory Vadas, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1798 or Gregory.Vadas@fcc.gov. 2