October 29, 1999

# OPEN PROCEEDINGS

The following is a listing of current FCC Notices of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRMs) and Notices of Inquiry (NOIs) open for public comment, except
routine petitions to amend the Table of Allotments. This listing also
includes pertinent Public Notices (PNs) announcing comment subjects and
dates. For additional information, contact Martha Contee, Public Service
Division at (202) 418-0190, TTY (202) 418-2555, email mcontee@fcc.gov.
Please note: as comment and reply comment periods expire, they are
deleted from this listing. \*Asterisk indicates comment period deadline
is past, but reply comment period still is open.

### COMMON CARRIER BUREAU

**CC 96-45; FNPRM 9/3 (adopted 8/5); FCC 99-240**

**Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service**

The Commission addressed the unique issues that may limit
telecommunications deployment and subscribership in the unserved or
underserved regions of our Nation, including on tribal lands and insular
areas. Comments due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register,
Replies 90 days after publication in the Federal Register.

**CC 96-262, CC 94-1, CC 99-249, CC 96-45; NPRM 9/15 (adopted 9/14); FCC
99-235**

**Access Charge Reform/Price Cap Performance Review for Local Exchange
Carriers/Low-Volume Long Distance users/Federal-State Joint Board on
Universal Service**

The Commission is seeking comment on a proposal submitted by the
Coalition for Affordable and Long Distance Services (CALLS) to the
Commission. Comments due October 29; reply comments due November 19.

**CC 96-262, 94-1, 99-249, 96-45;** **PN 10/20; DA 99-2254**

> **CCB Announces Extension of Time to File Comments on CALLS Proposal**

Granted NARUC's request for extension of time. Comments now due November
12; replies December 13.

**PN 9/29; DA 99-2016**

**Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on the Ohio Public Utilities
Commission\'s Petition for Delegation of Additional Authority to
Implement Number Conservation Measures**

The Ohio Public Utilities commission filed a petition requesting a grant
to the Petitioner of additional authority to implement certain area code
conservation measures in the State of Ohio. Comments due October 20\*;
replies November 3.

**CC 99-295; PN 9/29; DA 99-2014**

**Comments Requested on Application by Bell Atlantic for Authorization
Under Section 271 of the Communications Act to Provide In-Region,
Interlata Service in the State of New York**

New York Telephone Company, d.b.a Bell Atlantic- New York, Bell Atlantic
Communications, Inc., NYNEX Long Distance Company, and Bell Atlantic
Global Networks, Inc. filed an application for authorization to provide
in-region, interLATA service in the State of New York. Comments due
October 19. State Commission Written Consultations due October 19;
Department of Justice Written Consultations due November 1; replies due
November 8. Contact: Andrea Kearney at (202) 418-1580.

**CC 96-61; PN 10/1; DA 99-2065**

**Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on Union Telephone Company
Petition for Waiver of Sections 64.1903(a) and 64.1903(b) of the
Commission\'s Rules**

Union Telephone Company filed a petition for waiver of sections
64.190(a)(2) and 64.1903(b) of the commission\'s rules to allow the
continued provision of long distance services to its rural customers
without structural changes. Comments due November 1; replies November
12. Contact: Janice M. Myles at (202) 418-1580.

**PN 10/4; DA 99-2061**

**Oklahoma Independent Telephone Companies file Petition for Declaratory
Ruling**

The Oklahoma Independent Telephone Companies filed a petition seeking a
declaratory ruling that a number of incumbent local exchange carriers
must be allowed to establish cost-based, unsubsidized pay telephone
access rate lines, in order to ensure that the pay telephone services
provided by Oklahoma local exchange carriers to pay telephone service
providers are tariffed in accordance with the Commission\'s pay
telephone orders. Comments due November 4; replies November 19.
Contacts: Lynne Milen or Renee Terry at (202) 418-1520; TTY: (202)
418-0484.

**PN 10/7; DA 99-2015**

**Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on National Exchange Carrier
Association, Inc. 2000 Modification of Average Schedule Universal
Service Formulas**

The National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. filed its 2000
Modifications of Average Schedule Universal Service Formulas. Comments
due November 3; replies November 17. Contact: George Williams at (202)
418-0867; TTY: (202) 418-0484.

**CC 96-45; WT 99-266; PN 10/14; DA 99-2190**

Common Carrier Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announce
Comment Dates for Two Rulemaking Proceedings Concerning Tribal Areas and
New FCC Website for Indian Issues- CC Docket 96-45, WT Docket 99-266

The Commission announces comment dates for two notices of proposed
rulemaking concerning telecommunications service in tribal areas, as
well as the creation of a new FCC website dealing specifically with
telecommunications issues affecting Indians. Comments on WT 99-266 NRPM
FCC 99-205 re: the potential of wireless and satellite technologies to
provide telecommunications services to tribal lands and other unserved
areas of the Nation, due November 9; replies December 9. Comments on CC
Docket 99-65, FNPRM FCC 99-204 re: availability of and possible
impediments to telecommunications deployment and subscribership in
unserved and underserved areas of the Nation due November 29; replies
December 29. Contact for WTB: Joel Taubenblatt at (202) 418-1513.
Contact for CCB: Jack Zinman at (202) 418-7400.

# PN 10/15; DA 99-2174

# North Carolina Payphone Association Files Petition for Declaratory Ruling -- Pleading Cycle Established

On August 13, the North Carolina Payphone Association filed a petition
for expedited review and/or declaratory ruling of the basic payphone
service tariffs of the local exchange carriers in North Carolina for
compliance with 47 U.S.C. Section 276 and the Commission's rules and
orders. Comments due November 30; replies December 15. Contact: Lynne
Milne or Renee Terry at (202) 418-1520; TTY: (202) 418-0484.

**PN 10/22; DA 99-2281**

**Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on A Petition filed by Alcatel USA
for Waiver of 47 C.F.R. Section 68.308(e)(1)**

On October 18, Alcatel USA, Inc. filed a Petition for waiver of the
out-of-band signal power limitations contained in Section 68.308(e)(1)
of the Commission's rules so that it may register under Part 68 its
Model 1000 ADSL modem. Comments due November 19; replies December 3.
Contact: Bill Howden at (202) 418-2343.

**[INTERNATIONAL BUREAU]{.underline}**

**IB 98-96; R&O/NPRM 7/13 (adopted 6/21); FCC 99-150**

**1998 Biennial Regulatory Review - Review of Accounts Settlement in the
Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Radio Services**

Commission concluded that Commission shall cease operating as an
accounting authority for settling accounts for maritime mobile, maritime
satellite, aircraft and handheld terminal radio services. Will
transition to full privatization of the account-settlement function and
sought comment on a number of proposals regarding how best to implement
this transition. Comments due August 23\*; replies September 8\*.

> **IB 98-96; Order 8/18 (adopted 8/17)l DA 99-1653**
>
> **1998 Biennial Regulatory Review- Maritime Mobile and Maritime
> Mobile- Satellite Radio Services**
>
> Extended comment period in this proceeding until October 25\* and
> reply comment period until November 29.

### MASS MEDIA BUREAU

**MM 93-177; NPRM 6/11 (adopted 5/28); FCC 99-126**

**An Inquiry Into the Commission\'s Policies and Rules Regarding AM
Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification**

Proposed reductions in testing procedures for AM directional antennas.
Comments due 45 days after publication in the Federal Register; replies
due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

> **MM 93-177; Order 8/31 (adopted 8/31); DA 99-1755**
>
> **Directional Antenna Performance Verification**
>
> Granted an extension of the comment and reply comment periods.
> Comments due November 9; replies November 24.

**[WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU]{.underline}**

**CC 95-116; MO&O 9/1/98 (adopted 9/1/98); DA 98-1763**

**Telephone Number Portability**

Granted a petition filed by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry
Association (CTIA) requesting a nine‑month stay of the requirement that
all cellular, broadband personal communications service (PCS), and
covered specialized mobile radio (SMR) carriers provide service provider
number portability by June 30, 1999, while supporting nationwide
roaming. The Bureau finds that extending the deadline from June 30, 1999
to March 31, 2000, is necessary to ensure the efficient development of
wireless number portability.

**WT 99-217, CC 96-98; NPRM/NOI/3rd FNPRM 7/7 (adopted 6/10); FCC
99-141**

**Promotion of Competitive Networks in Local Telecommunications
Markets**

The Commission initiated a proceeding intended to facilitate the
development of competitive telecommunications networks that will provide
consumers with alternatives to services provided by the incumbent
wireline local exchange carriers (LECs). Comments due August 13\*;
replies September 3.\*

**WT 99-217, CC 96-98; Order 8/6 (adopted 8/6); DA 99-1563**

**Promotion of Competitive Networks**

Granted Utilities and LSGAC\'s requests for extension of time. Comments
due August 27\*; replies Sept 27\* for NPRM in WT 99-217 and FNPRM in CC
Docket 96-98. Comments due October 12\* and replies December 13 for NOI
in WT Docket 99-217.

**WT 99-266; NPRM 8/18 (adopted 8/5); FCC 99-205**

**Extending Wireless Telecommunications Services to Tribal Lands**

The Commission is seeking comment on potential terrestrial wireless and
satellite policy initiatives to address telecom needs of Indian living
on tribal lands. Comments due 60 days after publication in the Federal
Register; reply comments due 90 days after publication in the Federal
Register.

**PN 8/30; DA 99-1734**

**Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Extends Waiver of Limitations on
Payments in Settlement Agreements Among Parties in Contested Licensing
Cases**

Extended the waiver of the \"greenmail\" rules that was granted in the
Settlement Window Public Notice, released April 16, 1999. Waiver
extended until October 30. Contact: Don Johnson, Commercial Wireless
Division at (202) 418-7240.

**PN 9/27; DA 99-1986**

**Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Tenneco
communications Corporation Request for Waiver to Permit Permanent
Authorization on Developmental Frequencies**

On February 25, 1997, Tenneco Communications Corporation filed a request
for waiver of Section 90.65(e)(2) of the Commission\'s rules to convert
11 developmental licenses into regular licenses. Comments due October
27\*; replies November 11. Contact: Pam Slipakoff, Policy and rules
Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division at (202) 418-0680.

**WT 96-198; R&O/FNOI 9/29 (adopted 7/14); DA 99-181**

**Implementation of Sections 255 and 251(a)(2) of the Communications Act
of 1934, as Enacted by the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Access to
Telecommunications Service, Equipment and Customer Premises Equipment by
Persons With Disabilities**

Adopted rules and policies to implement sections 255 and 251(a)(2) of
the Communications At of 1934, as amended. Comments due November 14;
replies December 14.

**[OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY]{.underline}**

**ET 99-231; NPRM 6/24 (adopted 6/21); FCC 99-149**

**Amendment of Part 15 of the Commission\'s Rules Regarding Spectrum
Devices**

The Commission proposed to amend the Part 15 rules regarding the
operation of non-licensed spread spectrum systems, specifically, to
revise the rules for frequency hopping systems operating in the 2.4 GHz
band (24000-2483.5 MHz) to allow for wider operational bandwidths.
Comments due 75 days after [Federal Register]{.underline} publication;
replies 105 days after publication.

**ET 99-254; NPRM 7/15 (adopted 7/14); FCC 99-180**

**Closed Captioning Requirements for Digital Television Receivers**

Proposed amendment of Part 15 of rules to adopt technical standards for
the display of closed captions on digital television (DTV) receivers,
and proposed to require the inclusion of closed captioning decoder
circuitry in DTV receivers. The proposals will help ensure access to
digital programming for people with disabilities. Comments due 75 days
after publication in Federal Register; reply comments due 105 days after
publication in the Federal Register.

**ET 99-255; NPRM 7/16 (adopted 7/14); FCC 99-182**

**In the Matter of Amendment of Parts 2 and 95 of the Commission\'s
Rules to Create a Wireless Medical Telemetry Service**

The Commission proposed to amend Parts 2 and 95 of the rules to allocate
spectrum and to establish rules for a Wireless Medical Telemetry
Service. Action by the Commission. Comments due 45 days from publication
in Federal Register; replies due 75 days from date of publication in
Federal Register.

# ET 98-80; NPRM 10/18 (adopted 10/13); FC 99-296

In the Matter of 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review -- Conducted Emissions
Limits Below 30 MHz for Equipment Regulated Under Parts 15 and Part 18
of the Commission's Rules.

The Commission proposed to amend Parts 15 and 18 of its rules to revise
the limits on the amount of radio frequency energy that is permitted to
be conducted onto the AC power lines. Proposed to harmonize standards on
conducted emission limits with the international standards developed by
the International Electrotechnical Commission, International Special
Committee on Radio Interference. Comments due 75 days from publication
in the Federal Register. Replies due 105 days from publication in the
Federal Register.

#### MISCELLANEOUS

**PN 9/24**

**FCC Seeks Comment Regarding Possible Revision or Elimination of Rules
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 610**

The FCC published a plan for the review of rules issued by the agency in
calendar years 1986-1989, which have or might have significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities. Comments due December
10.