PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON, DC 20554 DA 97-2491 News media information 202/418-0500. Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222. November 25, 1997 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU IMPLEMENTS ELECTRONIC TARIFF FILING SYSTEM The Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) has established an Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS) that permits Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) to submit federal tariffs and associated documents electronically, via the Internet. The ETFS also enables interested parties to access and download these documents over the Internet, and to file petitions to reject, or suspend and investigate tariff filings electronically. The ETFS has been available for official filing since November 17, 1997. At a ribbon cutting ceremony at the November 25, 1997, open meeting, Chairman William Kennard officially inaugurated the system. In its January 31, 1997, Tariff Streamlining Report and Order implementing the tariff streamlining provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Commission determined to establish a program of electronic filing of tariffs and associated documents. The Commission determined that participation in the program would be mandatory for ILECs and delegated authority to the Bureau to implement the program. The benefits of ETFS are: availability to the public of tariffs and associated documents within a few minutes of being filed; official filing of documents is easier and less expensive; and easier search and location of documents through electronic search capabilities. At the present, use of ETFS by ILECs for an official filing is voluntary. Until participation in the ETFS becomes mandatory, ILECs are required to file tariffs and associated documents on paper, but are strongly encouraged to participate in the ETFS by submitting documents electronically as well. Mandatory use of ETFS by ILECs is scheduled to commence on February 2, 1998. At that time, filing of tariffs and associated documents on paper by ILECs will not be permitted. 19714 During the voluntary period of electronic tariff filing, persons wishing to obtain filings in tariff proceedings should continue to use current established methods to obtain tariff documents in order to assure that all filed documents are obtained, as well as obtaining access to electronically filed tariff documents through ETFS. Tariff page formats, notice periods, filing fee requirements, etc. are unchanged. In addition, rules pertaining to the filing of and delivery of petitions to tariff filings, such as requirements to deliver petitions by fax or in person, remain applicable to documents filed electrobnically. Access to the ETFS is via the Common Carrier Bureau's web page: http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/, for both the ILECs and the Public. A User's Manual is available for viewing or downloading from the ETFS site, as well as in paper form from the Commission's commercial copy contractor: International Transcription Service (ITS), 1931 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-857-3800. A computer terminal is available in the Commission's Public Reference Room, Room 250, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC, for viewing of this material. Paper copies of electronically filed material may be obtained from ITS. For further information, contact Todd Mitchell, Competitive Pricing Division, Common Carrier Bureau, 202-418-1520. -FCC- 19715