80 FR 10658 - Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment More Generally on Letter of Credit Proposals for Connect America Phase II Competitive Bidding Process

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 39 (February 27, 2015)

Page Range		10658-10659
FR Document		2015-04201

In these documents, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment more generally on letter of credit proposals raised by several petitions for waiver and their potential applicability to the Phase II competitive bidding process.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10658-10659]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04201]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 54

[WC Docket No. 10-90, 14-259; DA 15-140; DA 15-158]


Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment More Generally on 
Letter of Credit Proposals for Connect America Phase II Competitive 
Bidding Process

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In these documents, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks 
comment more generally on letter of credit proposals raised by several 
petitions for waiver and their potential applicability to the Phase II 
competitive bidding process.

DATES: Comments are due on or before March 30, 2015 and reply comments 
are due on or before April 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket Nos. 10-90 
and 14-259, by any of the following methods:
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Lankau, Wireline Competition 
Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of the Wireline 
Competition Bureau's Public Notices (Notices) in WC Docket No. 10-90, 
14-259; DA 15-140, released January 30, 2015 and DA 15-158, released 
February 4, 2015. The complete text of these documents are available 
for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
A257, Washington, DC 20554. The document may also be purchased from the 
Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (800) 
378-3160 or (202) 863-2893, facsimile (202) 863-2898, or via Internet 
at http://www.bcpiweb.com.

I. Introduction

    1. On January 27, 2015, the Alliance of Rural Broadband Applicants 
filed a petition for limited waiver of certain letter of credit (LOC) 
requirements applicable to the rural broadband experiments. On February 
3, 2015, NTCA--The Rural Broadband Association filed an emergency 
petition for limited waiver of the LOC bank eligibility requirements 
applicable to the rural broadband experiments. On January 21, 2015, the 
National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and its 
affiliate, the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, also filed a 
petition for waiver of one aspect of the Commission's LOC bank 
eligibility requirements.
    2. The Bureau notes that these petitions for waiver raise issues 
that may be relevant to broader pending questions regarding possible 
LOC requirements for recipients of funding awarded through the Phase II 
competitive bidding process. Thus, during the comment period 
established, the Bureau encourages parties to comment on the petitions' 
LOC proposals more generally and their potential applicability to the 
Phase II competitive bidding process.
    3. In order to develop a complete record on the issues presented in 
the waiver petition, the request for more general comment will be 
treated, for ex parte purposes, as ``permit-but-disclose'' in 
accordance with section 1.1200(a) of the Commission's rules, subject to 
the requirements under section 1.1206(b).

II. Procedural Matters

1. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis

    4. The USF/ICC Transformation Order and FNPRM included an Initial 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 603, 
exploring the potential impact on small entities of the Commission's 
proposal. We invite parties to file comments on the IRFA in light of 
this additional notice.

2. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    5. This document seeks comment on a potential new or revised 
information collection requirement. If the Commission adopts a new or 
revised information collection requirement, the Commission will publish 
a separate notice in the Federal Register inviting the public to 
comment on the requirement, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). In addition, pursuant 
to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, 
see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), the Commission seeks specific comment on how 
it might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.''

3. Filing Requirements

    6. Pursuant to Sec. Sec.  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. Comments may be filed 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 the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.

[[Page 10659]]

     Paper Filers: Parties that choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing. Because more than one 
docket number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must 
submit two additional copies for the additional docket number. 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, Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     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 must be disposed of 
before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
    7. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Parties should 
also send a copy of their filings to Heidi Lankau, Telecommunications 
Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street 
SW., Room 5-B511, Washington, DC 20554, or by email to 
Heidi.Lankau@fcc.gov.
    8. Documents are available for public inspection and copying during 
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. Furthermore, the 
documents may be viewed in and downloaded from ECFS.
    9. For additional information on this proceeding, contact Heidi 
Lankau (Heidi.Lankau@fcc.gov) of the Wireline Competition Bureau, 
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, (202) 418-7400.

Federal Communications Commission.
Ryan B. Palmer,
Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition 
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2015-04201 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

10658 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules

publications/bmbl5/BMBL5_sect_VIII_ ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, requirements for recipients of funding
d.pdf. identified by WC Docket Nos. 10–90 and awarded through the Phase II
4. D. Raoult, J.B. Ndihokubwayo, H. Tissot- 14–259, by any of the following competitive bidding process. Thus,
Dupont, V. Roux, B. Faugere, R. methods: during the comment period established,
Abegbinni, and R.J. Birtles. Outbreak of
epidemic typhus associated with trench
• Electronic Filers: Comments may be the Bureau encourages parties to
fever in Burundi. The Lancet. Aug. 1998; filed electronically using the Internet by comment on the petitions’ LOC
352 (3125):353–358. accessing the ECFS: http:// proposals more generally and their
5. D. Raoult, T. Woodward, and J.S. Dumler. fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. potential applicability to the Phase II
The history of epidemic typhus. Infect • People with Disabilities: Contact the competitive bidding process.
Dis Clin N Am. Mar. 2004; 18(1):127– FCC to request reasonable 3. In order to develop a complete
140. accommodations (accessible format record on the issues presented in the
6. B.E. Ivins, J.W. Ezzell, J. Jemski, K.W. documents, sign language interpreters, waiver petition, the request for more
Hedlund, J.D. Ristroph, and S.H. Leppla. CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov general comment will be treated, for ex
Immunization Studies with Attenuated parte purposes, as ‘‘permit-but-disclose’’
Strains of Bacillus anthracis. Infection
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432. in accordance with section 1.1200(a) of
and Immunity. May 1986; 52(2):454–458.
7. Centers for Disease Control and For detailed instructions for the Commission’s rules, subject to the
Prevention, National Center for Emerging submitting comments and additional requirements under section 1.1206(b).
and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases information on the rulemaking process, II. Procedural Matters
‘‘Anthrax Sterne strain (34F2) of Bacillus see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
anthracis,’’ http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/ section of this document. 1. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act
divisions/dfbmd/diseases/anthrax_
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Analysis
sterne/.
Heidi Lankau, Wireline Competition 4. The USF/ICC Transformation Order
8. Federal Select Agent Program, ‘‘Select
Agents and Toxins Exclusions,’’ http:// Bureau at (202) 418–7400 or TTY (202) and FNPRM included an Initial
www.selectagents.gov/ 418–0484. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA)
SelectAgentsandToxinsExclusions.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 603, exploring the
9. C. Johnston, B. Martin, G. Fichant, P. synopsis of the Wireline Competition potential impact on small entities of the
Polard, and J.P. Claverys. Bacterial Bureau’s Public Notices (Notices) in WC Commission’s proposal. We invite
transformation: distribution, shared parties to file comments on the IRFA in
Docket No. 10–90, 14–259; DA 15–140,
mechanisms and divergent control. light of this additional notice.
Nature Rev. Microbiol. 2014; 12: 181– released January 30, 2015 and DA 15–
196. 158, released February 4, 2015. The 2. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of
10. Center for Food Security and Public complete text of these documents are 1995 Analysis
Health, ‘‘Brucellosis Technical fact available for inspection and copying 5. This document seeks comment on
sheet,’’ http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/ during normal business hours in the a potential new or revised information
Factsheets/pdfs/brucellosis.pdf. FCC Reference Information Center, collection requirement. If the
Dated: February 5, 2015. Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room Commission adopts a new or revised
Sylvia M. Burwell, CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. The information collection requirement, the
Secretary. document may also be purchased from Commission will publish a separate
the Commission’s duplicating notice in the Federal Register inviting
[FR Doc. 2015–04169 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am]
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., the public to comment on the
BILLING CODE 4163–18–P
445 12th Street SW., Room CY–B402, requirement, as required by the
Washington, DC 20554, telephone (800) Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
378–3160 or (202) 863–2893, facsimile Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3501–
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS (202) 863–2898, or via Internet at 3520). In addition, pursuant to the
COMMISSION http://www.bcpiweb.com. Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of
47 CFR Part 54 I. Introduction 2002, Public Law 107–198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4), the Commission seeks
1. On January 27, 2015, the Alliance specific comment on how it might
[WC Docket No. 10–90, 14–259; DA 15–140;
of Rural Broadband Applicants filed a ‘‘further reduce the information
DA 15–158]
petition for limited waiver of certain collection burden for small business
Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks letter of credit (LOC) requirements concerns with fewer than 25
Comment More Generally on Letter of applicable to the rural broadband employees.’’
Credit Proposals for Connect America experiments. On February 3, 2015,
Phase II Competitive Bidding Process NTCA—The Rural Broadband 3. Filing Requirements
Association filed an emergency petition 6. Pursuant to §§ 1.415 and 1.419 of
AGENCY: Federal Communications for limited waiver of the LOC bank the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 1.415,
Commission. eligibility requirements applicable to 1.419, interested parties may file
ACTION: Proposed rule. the rural broadband experiments. On comments and reply comments on or
January 21, 2015, the National Rural before the dates indicated on the first
SUMMARY: In these documents, the Utilities Cooperative Finance page of this document. Comments may
Wireline Competition Bureau seeks Corporation and its affiliate, the Rural be filed using the Commission’s
comment more generally on letter of
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

Telephone Finance Cooperative, also Electronic Comment Filing System
credit proposals raised by several filed a petition for waiver of one aspect (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of
petitions for waiver and their potential of the Commission’s LOC bank Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings,
applicability to the Phase II competitive eligibility requirements. 63 FR 24121 (1998).
bidding process. 2. The Bureau notes that these • Electronic Filers: Comments may be
DATES: Comments are due on or before petitions for waiver raise issues that filed electronically using the Internet by
March 30, 2015 and reply comments are may be relevant to broader pending accessing the ECFS: http://
due on or before April 13, 2015. questions regarding possible LOC fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Feb 26, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM 27FEP1

$Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Proposed Rules 10659 • Paper Filers: Parties that choose to • Commercial overnight mail (other Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, file by paper must file an original and than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail 445 12th Street SW., Room 5–B511, one copy of each filing. Because more and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 Washington, DC 20554, or by email to than one docket number appears in the East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, Heidi.Lankau@fcc.gov. caption of this proceeding, filers must MD 20743. 8. Documents are available for public submit two additional copies for the • U.S. Postal Service first-class, inspection and copying during business additional docket number. Filings can Express, and Priority mail must be hours at the FCC Reference Information be sent by hand or messenger delivery, addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., by commercial overnight courier, or by Washington, DC 20554. People with Disabilities: To request Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554. first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be materials in accessible formats for Furthermore, the documents may be addressed to the Commission’s people with disabilities (braille, large viewed in and downloaded from ECFS. Secretary, Office of the Secretary, print, electronic files, audio format), 9. For additional information on this Federal Communications Commission. send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call proceeding, contact Heidi Lankau • All hand-delivered or messenger- the Consumer & Governmental Affairs (Heidi.Lankau@fcc.gov) of the Wireline delivered paper filings for the Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice), 202– Competition Bureau, Commission’s Secretary must be 418–0432 (tty). Telecommunications Access Policy delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 7. All filings must be addressed to the Division, (202) 418–7400. 12th St. SW., Room TW–A325, Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H. Federal Communications Commission. Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand Communications Commission, 445 12th Ryan B. Palmer, deliveries must be held together with Street SW., Washington, DC 20554. Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy rubber bands or fasteners. Any Parties should also send a copy of their Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. envelopes must be disposed of before filings to Heidi Lankau, [FR Doc. 2015–04201 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am] entering the building. Telecommunications Access Policy BILLING CODE 6712–01–P tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:15 Feb 26, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\27FEP1.SGM 27FEP1$

Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:14:40
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:14:40

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Proposed rule.
Dates		Comments are due on or before March 30, 2015 and reply comments are due on or before April 13, 2015.
Contact		Heidi Lankau, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.
FR Citation		80 FR 10658