Federal Communications Commission DA 21-777 DA 21-777 Released: June 30, 2021 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON MARNE ELK HORN TELEPHONE COMPANY PETITION FOR WAIVER OF COMMISSION RULES IN ORDER TO MERGE STUDY AREAS AND MODIFY ACCESS RATE BANDS AND CHARGES AND 2011 INTERSTATE SWITCHED ACCESS REVENUE REQUIREMENT AND BASE PERIOD REVENUE WC Docket No. 21-281 Comment Date: July 15, 2021 Reply Comment Date: July 26, 2021 The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment from interested parties on a petition for waiver filed by Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC). Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company Petition for Waiver of Sections 51.909(a), 51.917(b)(1) and 51.917(b)(7) of the Commission’s Rules to modify access rate bands and charges, and 2011 Base Period Revenue in connection with the merger of affiliated study areas in Iowa, WC Docket No. 21-281 (dated June 9, 2021) (Petition). METC seeks a waiver of sections 51.909(a), 51.917(b)(1) and 51.917(b)(7) of the Commission’s rules to modify access rate bands and charges, and 2011 Switched Access Revenue Requirement and 2011 Base Period Revenue in connection with the merger of affiliated study areas in Iowa. See Petition at 1-2. The merging study areas are Marne Elk Horn Telephone Company (METC Study Area Code (SAC) 359078) and Walnut Telecommunications (Walnut SAC 351326). Id. Filing Requirements. 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 above. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Commission’s online Electronic Comment Filing System (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) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis MD 20701. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington DC 20554. o 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 Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy. Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentations within two business days after the presentations (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 this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). Additional Information. For further information regarding the Public Notice, please contact Lynne Engledow, Wireline Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division, at (202) 418-1520 or via email at Lynne.Engledow@fcc.gov. 2