**DA 05-1869**

**June 28, 2005**

**WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON REQUESTS FOR WAIVER AND
DECLARATORY RULING CONCERNING LIFELINE RULES**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED**

**WC Docket No. 03-109**

**Comment Date: July 13, 2005**

**Reply Comment Date: July 28, 2005**

Several eligible telecommunications carriers ("ETCs") have filed
petitions with the Commission seeking a waiver of section 54.410(c)(2)
of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 54.410(c)(2), requesting an
additional 90 days in which to submit sample Lifeline verification
data.[^1] These ETCs and others also request a declaratory ruling that
where a state commission mandates Lifeline support and does not impose
certification and verification requirements on commercial mobile radio
services ("CMRS") carriers, it is legally sufficient for a CMRS carrier
to follow section 54.410 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 54.410,
for certification and verification.[^2]

We invite comment on these petitions. Pursuant to applicable procedures
set forth in sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
interested parties may file comments on or before **July 13, 2005**; and
reply comments on or before **July 28, 2005**. Comments may be filed
using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by
filing paper copies. *See Electronic filing of Documents in Rulemaking
Proceedings,* 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998).

Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via
the Internet to \<http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html\>. Generally, only
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket
or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however,
commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each
docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S.
Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking
number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet
e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters
should send an e-mail to \<ecfs@fcc.gov\>, and should include the
following words in the body of the message, "get form \<your e-mail
address\>." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply.

Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four
copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number
appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two
additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking 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 (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
Service mail).

The Commission's contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive hand-delivered or
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236
Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The
filing hours at this location 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 then 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 mail, Express Mail,
and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW,
Washington, D.C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the
Commission's Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission.

Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl
Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room
5-B540, Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, commenters must send
diskette copies to the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C.
20554.

Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §
1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to
disclosure.

For further information, contact Mika Savir, Telecommunications Access
Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-0384, TTY
(202) 418-0484, or Mika.Savir@fcc.gov.

[^1]: The following petitions were filed seeking a waiver of section
    54.410(c)(2) and a declaratory ruling: US Cellular Corporation, USOC
    of Washington RSA-4, Inc., Western Sub-RSA Ltd. Partnership,
    McDaniel Cellular Telephone Company, Oregon RSA No. 2 Limited
    Partnership, United States Cellular Operating Company of Richland,
    and Yakima Washington MSA Limited Partnership Petition for Waiver of
    the Federal Communications Commission's Rules for Filing Sample
    Lifeline Verification Data and for Declaratory Ruling Regarding the
    Commission's Lifeline Verification Rules, WC Docket No. 03-109 (June
    17, 2005); Alaska DigiTel, LLC Petition for Waiver of the Federal
    Communications Commission's Rules for Filing Sample Lifeline
    Verification Data and for Declaratory Ruling Regarding the
    Commission's Lifeline Verification Rules, WC Docket No. 03-109 (June
    17, 2005); US Cellular Corporation, US Cellular Operating Company,
    LLC, Green Bay Celltelco, Kenosha Cellular Telephone, L.P., Madison
    Cellular Telephone Company, Racine Cellular Telephone Company, and
    Lacrosse Cellular Telephone Company Petition for Waiver of the
    Federal Communications Commission's Rules for Filing Sample Lifeline
    Verification Data and for Declaratory Ruling Regarding the
    Commission's Lifeline Verification Rules, WC Docket No. 03-109 (June
    17, 2005); and Virginia Cellular, LLC d/b/a Cellular One Petition
    for Waiver of the Federal Communications Commission's Rules for
    Filing Sample Lifeline Verification Data and for Declaratory Ruling
    Regarding the Commission's Lifeline Verification Rules, WC Docket
    No. 03-109 (June 17, 2005).

[^2]: The following petitions seek only a declaratory ruling: Wisconsin
    RSA #4 Limited Partnership, Wausau Cellular Telephone Limited
    Partnership, Nsighttel Wireless, LLC, Metro Southwest PCS, LLP,
    Wisconsin RSA #10, and Brown County MSA Cellular Limited Partnership
    Request for Declaratory Ruling Regarding the Federal Communications
    Commission's Lifeline Verification Rules, WC Docket No. 03-109 (June
    17, 2005); RCC Minnesota, Inc. Request for Declaratory Ruling
    Regarding the Federal Communications Commission's Lifeline
    Verification Rules, WC Docket No. 03-109 (June 17, 2005).