Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
Amendment of Parts 0, 1, 51, and 61 of the
Commission’s Rules
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)
)
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MD Docket No. 17-357
ORDER
Adopted:  December 1, 2017 Released:  December 18, 2017
By the Commission:
1. In this Order, we reduce expenditures by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC 
or Commission) and modernize procedures by amending Section 1.1105
1
 of our rules, which sets forth the 
application fee for petitions filed with the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), to reflect the 
closure of the post office (P.O.) Box
2
 used for manual filings with WCB.  We require the use of an 
electronic payment system and, wherever possible, electronic filing.  Consistent with this change, we also 
make conforming revisions to Sections 0.401,
3
 1.49,
4
 1.51,
5
 1.52,
6
 1.742,
7
 1.1105,
8
 1.1111-1.1113,
9
 
1.1119,
10
 51.329(c)(2),
11
 61.13,
12
 61.14,
13
 61.17(d),
14
 and 61.20(b),
15
 to account for electronic filing of 
fees, tariffs, petitions, and applications with the WCB, as described more fully below. 
1
 47 CFR § 1.1105.
2
 A P.O. Box used for the collection of fees is referred to as a “lockbox” in our rules and other Commission 
documents. The FCC collects application processing fees using a series of P.O. Boxes located at U.S. Bank in St. 
Louis, Missouri.  See 47 CFR §§ 1.1101-1.1109 (setting forth the fee schedule for each type of application 
remittable to the Commission along with the correct lockbox).
3
 47 CFR § 0.401.
4
 47 CFR § 1.49.
5
 47 CFR § 1.51.
6
 47 CFR § 1.52.
7
 47 CFR § 1.742.
8
 47 CFR § 1.1105.
9
 47 CFR § 1.1111-1.1113.
10
 47 CFR § 1.1119.
11
 47 CFR § 51.329.
12
 47 CFR § 61.13.
13
 47 CFR § 61.14.
14
 47 CFR § 61.17.
15
 47 CFR § 61.20.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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2. Section 1.1105 of the Commission’s rules
16
 has provided a schedule of processing fees 
for applications, tariffs, and petitions processed by the WCB.  The rule had also directed filers, who do 
not utilize the Commission’s on-line filing and fee payment systems, to send manual filings and payments 
to P.O. Box 979091 at U.S. Bank in St. Louis, Missouri.
17
  
3. The Commission has reduced its use of P.O. Boxes for the collection of fees and 
encouraged the use of electronic payment systems for all application and regulatory fees.
18
  We find that 
electronic payment of fees for applications, tariffs, and petitions processed by the WCB increases the 
agency’s financial efficiency by reducing expenditures, including the annual fee for utilizing the bank’s 
services as well as the cost to manually process each transaction, with little or no inconvenience to our 
regulatees, applicants and the public.
19
4. As part of this effort, we are now closing P.O. Box 979091 and modifying the relevant 
rule provisions that require payment of fees and/or processing of filings via the closed P.O. Box.  Our 
action here to close this lockbox and require electronic payments for any WCB-related fees, as well as 
encouraging the electronic filing of WCB-related petitions and applications, has implications for existing 
Commission regulations other than Section 1.1105.  Thus, we also revise Sections 0.401, 1.49, 1.51, 1.52, 
1.742, 1.1111, 1.1112, 1.1113, 1.1119, 51.329(c)(2), 61.13, 61.14, 61.17(d), and 61.20.
20
  These 
additional rules are modified to eliminate references to P.O. Box 979091, encourage electronic filing of 
WCB related applications when practicable, and clarify where other filing rules only apply to paper 
filings to avoid confusion.  For instance, Sections 61.13, 61.14, 61.17(d) and 61.20(b) are revised to 
require carriers to utilize the electronic filing process for all tariff publications and related documents 
whenever practicable, and directs manual filers to the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary for 
procedures for submitting hard copies.  The rule changes are contained in the attached Appendix.  We 
make these changes without notice and comment because they are rules of agency organization, 
procedure, or practice exempt from the general notice-and-comment requirements of the Administrative 
Procedure Act.
21
5. Implementation.  As a temporary transition measure, for 90 days after publication of this 
order in the Federal Register, payments and paper filings to P.O. Box 979091 will continue to be 
processed by U.S. Bank.  After that date, payments for any WCB-related fee or service must be made in 
accordance with the procedures set forth on the Commission’s web site, https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-
databases/fees.  For now, such payments will be made through the Fee Filer Online System (Fee Filer), 
accessible at https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/fee-filer.  As we assess and implement U.S. 
Treasury initiatives toward an all-electronic payment system, we may transition to other secure payment 
systems with appropriate public notice and guidance.  To file applications, tariffs and petitions processed 
16
 47 CFR § 1.1105.
17
 Id. 
18
 The Commission previously revised its payment rules to encourage electronic payment of application processing 
fees and require electronic payment of regulatory fees.  47 CFR §§ 1.1112 (application fees) and 1.1158 (regulatory 
fees).  These rules became effective November 30, 2015. 80 FR 66816 (Oct. 30, 2015).  More recently, in 2017, we 
closed a lockbox account and modified the relevant rule provision that required payment of fees via the closed P.O. 
Box.  Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules, MD Docket No. 17–123, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 4203 (2017), 
82 FR 24560 (rel. May 9, 2017) (modifying Section 1.1109 of the Commission’s rules to delete reference to P.O. 
Box 979092 at U.S. Bank in St. Louis, Missouri).   
19
 See Treasury Financial Manual, Bulletin No. 2017-12, “Agency No-Cash or No-Check Policies,” released on 
September 18, 2017 (explaining the circumstances under which agencies may decide not to accept payments made 
in cash or by check), available at https://tfm.fiscal.treasury.gov/v1/bull/17-12.pdf  (last visited October 18, 2017); 
see also https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-06-16/pdf/2011-15181.pdf.
20
 See footnotes 3-15, supra. 
21
 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(A).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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by the WCB, parties should utilize, as applicable, the Commission’s Electronic Tariff Filing System for 
tariffs, which can be found at https://apps.fcc.gov/etfs/etfsHome.action, or the Electronic Comment Filing 
System (ECFS) for domestic 214 and other filings referenced in Section 1.1105, which can be found at 
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/upload/display.  Petitions filed in hard copy format should be submitted according 
to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary, 
https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.  
6. Regulatory Flexibility Act, Paperwork Reduction Act, and Congressional Review Act. 
Section 603 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, requires a regulatory flexibility analysis in 
notice and comment rulemaking proceedings.
22
  As we are adopting these rules without notice and 
comment, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.  This document does not contain any new 
proposed information collection(s) subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
23
  In addition, 
therefore, it does not contain any new or modified “information collection burden for small business 
concerns with fewer than 25 employees,” pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002.
24
  
The Commission will not send a copy of this Order pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 
U.S.C. § 801(a)(1)(A), because the adopted rules are rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice 
that do not “substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.
25
7. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, that pursuant to Sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), this ORDER is hereby 
ADOPTED and the rules set forth in the Appendix are hereby AMENDED effective 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. 
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Marlene H. Dortch
Secretary
22
 5 U.S.C. § 603(a).
23
 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3520.
24
 See 44 U.S.C. § 3506(c)(4).
25
 5 U.S.C. § 804(3)(C) (rules subject to the Congressional Review Act do not include “any rule of agency 
organization, procedure, or practice that does not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-agency 
parties”).
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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APPENDIX
Final Rules
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 0, is amended as follows:
PART 0 — COMMISSION AND ORGANIZATION
1. The authority citation for Part 0 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 5, 48 Stat. 1068, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 155, 225, unless otherwise noted.
2. Amend § 0.401 as follows:
§ 0.401 Location of Commission offices.  
* * * * *
(a) * * * 
(1) * * * 
(iii) Electronic filings, where required, recommended, or permitted, must be transmitted as specified by 
the Commission or relevant Bureau or Office.
* * * * *
(b) Applications or filings requiring the fees set forth at part 1, subpart G of the rules must be delivered 
through the appropriate electronic filing system with the correct fee and completed Fee Form attached to 
the application or filing, unless otherwise directed by the Commission. In the case of any conflict between 
this rule subpart and other rules establishing filing locations for submissions subject to a fee, this subpart 
shall govern.
Note: * * *
(1) Applications and filings submitted by mail shall be submitted following the procedures set forth by 
the Commission in the appropriate fee rules.
Note: * * * 
(2) [Removed]
* * * * *
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1, is amended as follows:
PART 1 — PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
3. The authority citation for Part 1 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 34-39, 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 157, 160, 201, 225, 227, 303, 309, 332, 1403, 1404, 
1451, 1452, and 1455.
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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4. Amend § 1.49 as follows:
§ 1.49 Specifications as to pleadings and documents.
(a) All pleadings and documents filed in paper form in any Commission proceeding shall be typewritten 
or prepared by mechanical processing methods, and shall be filed electronically or on paper with 
dimensions of A4 (21 cm. × 29.7 cm.) or on 8 1/2 × 11 inch (21.6 cm. × 27.9 cm.) with the margins set so 
that the printed material does not exceed 6 1/2 × 9 1/2 inches (16.5 cm. × 24.1 cm.). The printed material 
may be in any typeface of at least 12-point (0.42333 cm. or 12/72?) in height. The body of the text must 
be double spaced with a minimum distance of 7/32 of an inch (0.5556 cm.) between each line of text. 
Footnotes and long, indented quotations may be single spaced, but must be in type that is 12-point or 
larger in height, with at least 1/16 of an inch (0.158 cm.) between each line of text. Counsel are cautioned 
against employing extended single spaced passages or excessive footnotes to evade prescribed pleading 
lengths. If single-spaced passages or footnotes are used in this manner the pleading will, at the discretion 
of the Commission, either be rejected as unacceptable for filing or dismissed with leave to be refiled in 
proper form. Paper pleadings and documents may be printed on both sides. Paper pleadings and 
documents that use only one side of the paper shall be stapled, or otherwise bound, in the upper left-hand 
corner; those using both sides of the paper shall be stapled twice, or otherwise bound, along the left-hand 
margin so that it opens like a book. The foregoing shall not apply to printed briefs specifically requested 
by the Commission, official publications, charted or maps, original documents (or admissible copies 
thereof) offered as exhibits, specially prepared exhibits, or if otherwise specifically provided. All copies 
shall be clearly legible.
* * * * *
5. Amend § 1.51 as follows:
§ 1.51 Number of copies of pleadings, briefs, and other papers.
(a) In hearing proceedings, unless filed electronically or otherwise specified by Commission rules, an 
original and one copy shall be filed, along with-an additional copy for each additional presiding officer at 
the hearing, if more than one. If filed electronically, additional courtesy copies shall be e-mailed as 
directed by the Commission.
* * * * *
6. Amend § 1.52 by revising the fifth sentence to read as follows:
§ 1.52 Subscription and verification.
* * * If filed electronically, a signature will be considered any symbol executed or adopted by the party 
with the intent that such symbol be a signature, including symbols formed by computer-generated 
electronic impulses. * * *
7. Amend § 1.742 as follows:
§ 1.742 Place of filing, fees, and number of copies.
All applications which do not require a fee shall be filed electronically through the Commission’s 
Electronic Comment Filing System if practicable.  Applications which must be filed in hard copy format 
should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the 
Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.  Hand-delivered applications will be dated by the Secretary 
upon receipt (mailed applications will be dated by the Mail Branch) and then forwarded to the Wireline 
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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Competition Bureau.  All applications accompanied by a fee payment should be filed in accordance with 
§ 1.1105, Schedule of charges for applications and other filings for the wireline competition services. 
8. Amend § 1.1105 as follows:
§ 1.1105 Schedule of charges for applications and other filings for the wireline competition services.
Remit payment for these services electronically using the Commission’s electronic filing and payment 
system, and, where practicable, applications and other substantive filings, in accordance with the 
procedures set forth on the Commission’s web site, www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees.  Petitions, 
applications, and other substantive filings in hard copy format are to be submitted according to the 
procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.
* * * * *
9. Amend § 1.1111 by revising paragraph (d) as follows:
§ 1.1111 Payment of charges.
* * * * *
(d) Applications returned to applicants for additional information or corrections will not require an 
additional fee when resubmitted, unless the additional information results in an increase of the original fee 
amount. Those applications not requiring an additional fee should be resubmitted electronically or directly 
to the Bureau/Office requesting the additional information, as requested. The original fee will be forfeited 
if the additional information or corrections are not resubmitted by the prescribed deadline. A forfeited 
application fee will not be refunded. If an additional fee is required, the original fee will be returned and 
the application must be resubmitted with a new remittance in the amount of the required fee. Applicants 
should attach a copy of the Commission's request for additional or corrected information to their 
resubmission.
* * * * *
10. Amend § 1.1112 by revising paragraph (g) as follows:
§ 1.1112 Form of payment.
* * * * *
(g) The Commission will furnish a stamped receipt of an application filed by mail or in person only upon 
request that complies with the following instructions. In order to obtain a stamped receipt for an 
application (or other filing), the application package must include a copy of the first page of the 
application, clearly marked “copy”, submitted expressly for the purpose of serving as a receipt of the 
filing. The copy should be the top document in the package. If hand delivered, the copy will be date-
stamped immediately and provided to the bearer of the submission. For submissions by mail, the receipt 
copy will be provided through return mail if the filer has attached to the receipt copy a stamped self-
addressed envelope of sufficient size to contain the date stamped copy of the application. No remittance 
receipt copies will be furnished. Stamped receipts of electronically-filed applications will not be provided.
* * * * *
11. Amend § 1.1113 to read as follows:
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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§ 1.1113 Filing locations.
(a) Except as noted in this section, applications and other filings, with attached fees and FCC Form 159, 
must be submitted to the locations and addresses set forth in §§ 1.1102 through 1.1109.
(1) Tariff filings shall be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, 
DC 20554. On the same day, the filer should submit a copy of the cover letter, the FCC Form 159, and the 
appropriate fee in accordance with the procedures established in § 1.1105.
(2) Bills for collection will be paid electronically or at the Commission's lockbox bank at the address of 
the appropriate service as established in §§ 1.1102 through 1.1109, as set forth on the bill sent by the 
Commission. Payments must be accompanied by the bill sent by the Commission. Payments must be 
accompanied by the bill to ensure proper credit. Electronic payments must include the reference number 
contained on the bill sent by the Commission.
(3) Petitions for reconsideration or applications for review of fee decisions pursuant to § 1.1119(b) of this 
subpart must be accompanied by the required fee for the application or other filing being considered or 
reviewed.
(4) Applicants claiming an exemption from a fee requirement for an application or other filing under 47 
U.S.C. 158(d)(1) or § 1.1116 of this subpart shall file their applications in the appropriate location as set 
forth in the rules for the service for which they are applying, except that request for waiver accompanied 
by a tentative fee payment should be filed as set forth in §§ 1.1102 through 1.1109.
12. Amend § 1.1119 by revising paragraph (c) as follows:
§ 1.1119 Petitions and applications for review.
* * * * *
(c) * * * 
(1) Petitions and applications for review submitted with a fee must be submitted electronically or to the 
Commission’s lock box bank at the address for the appropriate service as set forth in §§ 1.1102 through 
1.1107.
(2) If no fee payment is submitted, the request should be filed electronically through the Commission’s 
Electronic Comment Filing System or with the Commission’s Secretary.
* * * * *
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 51, is amended as follows:
PART 51 — INTERCONNECTION
13. The authority citation for Part 51 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 151-55, 201-05, 207-09, 218, 220, 225-27, 251-54, 256, 271, 303(r), 332, 1302.
14. Amend § 51.329 by revising paragraph (c)(2) as follows:
§51.329    Notice of network changes: Methods for providing notice. 
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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* * * * *
(c) * * *
(2) The incumbent LEC’s public notice and any associated certifications shall be filed through the 
Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), using the “Submit a Non-Docketed Filing” 
module. All subsequent filings responsive to a notice may be filed using the Commission’s ECFS under 
the docket number set forth in the Commission’s public notice for the proceeding. If necessary, 
subsequent filings responsive to a notice also may be filed by sending one paper copy of the filing to 
“Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554” and one paper copy of the 
filing to “Federal Communications Commission, Wireline Competition Bureau, Competition Policy 
Division, Washington, DC 20554.” For notices filed using the Commission’s ECFS, the date on which the 
filing is received by that system will be considered the official filing date. For notices filed via paper 
copy, the date on which the filing is received by the Secretary or the FCC Mailroom is considered the 
official filing date. All subsequent filings responsive to a notice shall refer to the ECFS docket number 
assigned to the notice.
Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61, is amended as follows:
PART 61 — TARIFFS
15. The authority citation for Part 61 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: Secs. 1, 4(i), 4(j), 201-205 and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended; 47 
U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 201-205 and 403, unless otherwise noted.
16. Amend § 61.13 to read as follows:
§ 61.13 Scope.  
(a) All issuing carriers that file tariffs are required to file tariff publications electronically, if practicable.
(b) All tariff publications shall be filed in a manner that is compatible and consistent with the technical 
requirements of the Electronic Tariff Filing System.
(c) Tariff publications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the 
procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.
17. Amend § 61.14 to revise paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:
§ 61.14 Method of filing publications.  
(a) Publications filed electronically must be captioned to “Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, Washington, DC 20554.” The Electronic Tariff Filing System will accept filings 24 hours a 
day, seven days a week. The official filing date of a publication received by the Electronic Tariff Filing 
System will be determined by the date and time the transmission ends. If the transmission ends after the 
close of a business day, as that term is defined in § 1.4(e)(2) of this Chapter, the filing will be date and 
time stamped as of the opening of the next business day.
(b) Carriers are strongly encouraged to submit publications electronically if practicable.  Carriers need 
only transmit one set of files to the Commission. No other copies to any other party are required.  
Publications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set 
forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.
* * * * *
Federal Communications Commission FCC 17-159
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18. Amend § 61.17 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
§ 61.17 Applications for special permission.  
* * * * *
(d) In addition, for special permission applications requiring fees as set forth in part 1, subpart G of this 
chapter, carriers shall submit the appropriate fee and associated payment form electronically through the 
process set forth in § 1.1105 of this chapter and, if practicable, the application and associated documents 
electronically in accordance with the procedures set forth on the Commission’s web site, 
www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees.  Applications which must be filed in hard copy format should be 
submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the Secretary, 
https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.
* * * * *
19. Amend § 61.20 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
§ 61.20 Method of filing publications.
* * * * *
(b) In addition, all tariff publications requiring fees as set forth in part 1, subpart G of this chapter, shall 
be submitted electronically if practicable in accordance with § 1.1105 of this chapter along with the 
electronic submission of the payment online form.  Petitions which must be filed in hard copy format 
should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC’s Office of the 
Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/secretary.