Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

[[Page 27323]]

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 36 and 69

[CC Docket No. 96-45; DA-96-702]

Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule: Denial of extension of time.

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SUMMARY: On May 6, 1996, the Federal Communications Commission

(``Commission'') released an Order (``Order'') denying a request to

extend the deadline for filing reply comments to its Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking and Order Establishing Joint Board, released March 8, 1996

(CC Docket No. 96-45). The Commission denied the request out of concern

that further delay in this proceeding might jeopardize the Joint

Board's ability to issue a recommended decision within the statutory

deadline set forth in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. By not extending

the period for filing reply comments, the Commission intends to support

the Joint Board in its resolve to announce its recommended decision on

or before the statutory deadline of November 8, 1996.

DATES: Reply comments were due on or before May 8, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Office of the Secretary,

Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street NW., Washington, D.C.

20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Reel, 202-418-0850, Accounting and

Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 8, 1996, the Federal Communications

Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order

Establishing Joint Board (``NPRM''), 61 FR 10499 (March 14, 1996). The

Commission sought comment on all matters discussed in that NPRM. The

deadline for comments was April 8, 1996 and the deadline for reply

comments was May 3, 1996. On April 1, 1996, the Commission released an

Order that extended the comment period until April 12, 1996 and the

reply comment period until May 7, 1996 for all interested parties. On

April 30, 1996, Information Renaissance and California Technology

Assistance Project (petitioners) filed a joint request for a seven day

further extension of the reply comment deadline. Petitioners argued

that a further extension would permit parties to avail themselves of

the original comments that petitioners had put on the World Wide Web in

electronic form, and thereby file reply comments based upon a better

knowledge of the original comments. Believing that a further extension

of time would seriously jeopardize the Joint Board's ability to issue a

recommended decision within the statutory deadline set forth in the

Act, the Commission found that the public interest would not be served

by a further extension of time. Pursuant to the Commission's rules

governing motions for the extension of time (47 CFR Sec. 1.46),

however, parties have two business days grace after the Commission acts

on a timely filed motion for an extension of time. Because the

Commission denied petitioner's motion on May 6, 1996, reply comments

were due May 8, 1996.

Federal Communications Commission.

Kenneth P. Moran,

Chief, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

[FR Doc. 96-13667 Filed 5-30-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P