Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions of 1996 Telecommunications Act

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Chapter I

Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions of 1996

Telecommunications Act

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment date.

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SUMMARY: The Public Notice extends an additional Comment opportunity in

CC Docket 96-98 in order to allow parties to that proceeding to comment

on a staff-prepared working copy of an industry demand and supply

simulation model. The model, using publicly-available, industry-wide

information, allows users to simulate the relative impact of particular

changes in the industry.

DATES: Comments are due on or before July 8, 1996. (No reply comments

allowed).

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas J. Beers at (202) 418-0952.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[DA 96-1030; IAD 96-176]

[[Page 34406]]

Supplemental Comment Period Extended for Local Competition Proceeding,

CC Docket 96-98

Released June 25, 1996.

1. On June 17, 1996, the FCC's Industry Analysis Division, Common

Carrier Bureau, and the Competition Division, Office of General

Counsel, released a staff model of the telecommunications industry

which allows model users to calculate a variety of outputs from nearly

200 specifications (News Release, ``FCC Staff Releases Working Copy of

an Industry Demand & Supply Simulation Model,'' released June 17,

1996.) The staff model allows the user to specify growth rates, pricing

trends, demand elasticities and cost relationships to simulate effects

in traditional industry segments. The staff model, using publicly-

available, industry-wide information, allows the user to simulate the

relative impact of particular changes in the industry. On June 20,

1996, the Common Carrier Bureau, on delegated authority, issued a

Public Notice that announced that a copy of the staff model had been

placed in the public file in CC Docket No. 96-98, Implementation of the

Local Competition Provisions in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Parties were requested to file Comments on the staff model in that

proceeding no later than Monday, July 1, 1996. (Public Notice,

``Supplemental Comment Period Designated for Local Competition

Proceeding, CC Docket 96-98,'' DA 96-1007, released June 20, 1996.) (61

FR 32766, June 25, 1996).

2. On June 21, 1996, Cox Communications, Inc. (``Cox'') filed a

Motion for Extension of Time seeking an extension, to July 8, 1996, to

file its supplemental comments about the staff model.1 In its

petition, Cox argues, inter alia, that the comment period is

insufficient to give parties a meaningful opportunity to analyze and

comment on the staff model.2

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\1\ Motion for Extension of Time of Cox Communications, Inc.

(``Cox Petition''), CC Docket No. 96-98 (filed June 21, 1996). On

June 24, 1996, Cox supplemented its petition with an Attachment to

the original motion. See Affidavit of Joshua E. Fine In Support of

Cox Communications, Inc. Motion for Extension of Time (filed June

24, 1996).

\2\ Cox Petition, 2-5.

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3. The Commission faces severe time constraints, imposed by Section

251 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sec. 251,

to resolve the interconnection proceeding within the timeframe

prescribed. Nevertheless, in order to afford commenters in CC Docket

No. 96-98 as much opportunity as possible to analyze and utilize the

staff model, a limited extension of the supplemental comment period is

authorized. Parties who wish to comment on the model, use the model,

create variations of the model, or file models of their own, in that

proceeding are requested to file Comments no later than Monday, July 8,

1996. As stated in the June 20 Public Notice, there will be no Reply

Comment filing opportunity.

4. Copies of the model may be purchased by calling International

Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS) at (202) 857-3800. The model also

can be downloaded from the Common Carrier Bureau's home page on the

World Wide Web. The home page can be accessed directly (http://

www.fcc.gov/ccb.html) or through a direct link from the main FCC home

page (http://www.fcc.gov). The model also can be downloaded from the

FCC-State Link computer bulletin board at (202) 418-0241 [BBS file

name: MODELV30.ZIP].

For further information, contact Thomas J. Beers at (202) 418-0952

(e-mail: [email protected]). For further information about the model,

contact Jim Lande at (202) 418-0498 (e-mail: [email protected]) or Doron

Fertig at (202) 418-1869 (e-mail: [email protected]).

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96-16760 Filed 6-28-96; 8:45 am]

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