DA 01-1458

June 20, 2001

**COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON TRANSLATION OF COST MODEL TO
DELPHI COMPUTER LANGUAGE AND**

**ANNOUNCES POSTING OF UPDATED COST MODEL**

**CC Docket No. 96-45**

Comment Date: 45 days from publication in the Federal Register

Reply Comment Date: 60 days from publication in the Federal Register

In the *Fifth Report and Order* released on October 28, 1998, the
Commission adopted a forward-looking cost model to be used in
determining federal high-cost universal service support for non-rural
carriers.[^1] To date, the model has been in Turbo-Pascal computer
language. Commission staff have translated the model from Turbo-Pascal
language into Delphi computer language. This Public Notice announces the
posting of the current forward-looking cost model in Delphi computer
language. We seek comment on whether we should use the Delphi version
for purposes of calculating support amounts for 2002.

The Delphi version can be found on the Commission's Web site
(www.fcc.gov/ccb/apd/hcpm). The Delphi version of the forward-looking
cost model is a beta version that will continue to be refined and
updated as the Commission staff and interested parties work with it.[^2]
In an effort to use a computer language that works best for the
Commission and all interested parties, this Public Notice seeks comment
on advantages of the Delphi version over the Turbo-Pascal version, and
recommendations concerning improvements to the Delphi version.

In this Public Notice, we also announce the posting of a separate,
updated Turbo-Pascal version of the cost model on the Commission's Web
site (www.fcc.gov/ccb/apd/hcpm) that contains minor programming changes
to the model[^3] and source codes[^4] that were necessary for the
purpose of using the updated line count data.[^5] On December 8, 2000,
the Commission decided to use the year-end 1999 line counts filed July
31, 2000, as input values for estimating average forward-looking costs
and determining support for the year 2001.[^6] Because the year-end 1999
line count data in large part remains subject to a protective order,[^7]
the posted version of the model contains the 1998 line count data that
has already been made available to the public. Parties that wish to work
with the year-end 1999 line count data should contact the Universal
Service Administrative Company (USAC) and must adhere to the procedures
set forth in the Commission's protective order.

Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission\'s rules, 47
C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments 45 days or
fewer from publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments 60
days or fewer from publication in the Federal Register. 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. 24,121 (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. In completing the transmittal
screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service
mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties
may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To receive
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. All filings
must be sent to the Commission\'s Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office
of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl
Todd, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street S.W., Room 5-A422,
Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette
copies to the Commission\'s copy contractor, International Transcription
Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037.

Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission\'s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §
1.1206, this proceeding will continue to be conducted as a
permit-but-disclose proceeding in which *ex parte* communications are
permitted subject to disclosure. For further information, please
contact: Katie King, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau,
(202) 418-7400 or Thomas Buckley, Accounting Policy Division, Common
Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-7400.

[^1]: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, *Fifth Report and
    Order*, CC Docket Nos. 96-45, 97-160, 13 FCC Rcd 21,323 (rel. Oct.
    28, 1998) (*Fifth Report and Order*).

[^2]: As we continue to refine the Delphi version and make necessary
    technical corrections, we will post these corrections on first
    business day of each month to the Commission's Web site for
    inspection and public comment.

[^3]: For example, the cluster interface and feeder distribution modules
    have been modified to correct two errors in table lookup procedures
    regarding soil texture and water depth. In addition, certain
    variable type declarations have been refined, the block divide
    algorithm in the cluster module has been refined, and the line count
    true-up procedure in the cluster module has been refined.

[^4]: The following source code corrections have been made: (1)
    DISTRIB.PAS (corrects erroneous total grid distribution cost
    calculation); (2) FEEDDIST.PAS (corrects variable type declaration);
    (3) GLOBALS.PAS (corrects variable type declaration); (4) LOTDIV.PAS
    (eliminates hard-coded data); (5) PRIMFEED.PAS (eliminates
    unnecessary variables and printout code); (6) STRUCTUR.PAS (utilizes
    correct water depth variable).

[^5]: *See* *Fifth Report and Order* at para. 13 (delegating authority
    to the Common Carrier Bureau to make changes to the new model "to
    ensure that the platform of the federal mechanism operates as
    described in \[the Fifth Report and Order\]"); *Common Carrier
    Bureau Announces Procedures for Releasing High-Cost Support Amounts
    for Non-Rural Carriers and Revised Model Results*, CC Docket Nos.
    96-45 and 97-160, Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 15,559 (2000) (stating
    that the Commission would correct minor programming or data errors
    to the model and post such changes on a regular basis).

[^6]: Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, *Order*, CC Docket
    Nos. 96-45, 15 FCC Rcd 23,960, para. 8 (rel. Dec. 8, 2000).

[^7]: *See* Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service*, Interim
    Protective Order*, CC Docket No. 96-45, 15 FCC Rcd 10,183 (rel. Apr.
    7, 2000); *see also* Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service,
    *Order*, CC Docket No. 96-45, FCC 00-125, para. 24 (rel. Apr. 7,
    2000). Specifically, 1999 line count data for wire centers that do
    not receive support from the Commission's high-cost universal
    service mechanism are afforded confidential treatment. *See id.* at
    para. 2.