Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 64

[CC Docket No. 97-213, DA 97-2686]

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 23, 1997, the Chief, Network Services Division,

Common Carrier Bureau issued DA 97-2686, an order granting the Petition

filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on December 17, 1997, to

extend the date for reply comments in the Communications Assistance for

Law Enforcement Act, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 97-

213, FCC 97-356 (rel. Oct. 10, 1997), to February 11, 1998.

DATES: Reply Comments are due February 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: File reply comments with the Secretary, Federal

Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington,

DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Ward, Network Services Division,

Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-2320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Adopted: December 23, 1997 Released: December 23, 1997 By the

Chief, Network Services Division:

1. On October 10, 1997, the Commission released a Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to implement certain sections of the

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA), 47 U.S.C.

1001 et seq. 1 Comments were due on December 12, 1997, and

reply comments are due on January 12, 1998.

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\1\ Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act, Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 97-213, FCC 97-356 (rel. Oct. 10,

1997).

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1001 et seq. 1 Comments were due on December 12, 1997, and

reply comments are due on January 12, 1998.

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\1\ Communications Assistance For Law Enforcement Act, Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 97-213, FCC 97-356 (rel. Oct. 10,

1997).

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2. The Commission has received a ``Request for an Extension of Time

to File Reply Comments'' in the above captioned proceeding, filed on

December 17, 1997 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI

asks for an extension of thirty days, which would change the date for

reply comments from January 12, 1998, to February 11, 1998.

3. It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall

not be routinely granted.2 The Petitioner cites four special

circumstances: ``(1) the FBI must coordinate its reply effort with--and

obtain consensus from--approximately fifty (50) Law Enforcement

Technical Forum (LETF) members and other law enforcement agencies

across the nation; (2) this rulemaking involves a complex subject

matter that affects not only carriers, but hundreds of Federal, State,

and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices; (3) the

issues in this rulemaking invoke critical public safety and privacy

concerns, the development of a complete record is particularly

important in this matter; and (4) the current 30-day reply period

coincides with the holidays, which further limits the FBI's

undertaking.'' 3

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\2\ See 47 CFR 1.46.

\3\ Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, Request

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for An Extension of Time to

File Reply Comments, CC Docket No. 97-213, FCC 97-356 (Dec. 17,

1997), at 2.

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dertaking.'' 3

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\2\ See 47 CFR 1.46.

\3\ Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, Request

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for An Extension of Time to

File Reply Comments, CC Docket No. 97-213, FCC 97-356 (Dec. 17,

1997), at 2.

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4. The circumstances shown by Petitioner establish good cause for

an extension of the reply comment date in this docket. All parties to

this proceeding will be allowed to file reply comments by February 11,

1998.

5. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to authority found in

Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,

47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r), and Sections 0.204(b), 0.291 and

1.45 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.204(b), 0.291 and 1.45, that

an additional period of thirty days to submit Reply Comments is

granted. The new date for Reply Comments is February 11, 1998.

Federal Communications Commission.

Geraldine A. Matise,

Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau.

[FR Doc. 98-706 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]

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