**DA 06-295**

Released: February 6, 2006

# REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THE RATE INTEGRATION PLAN FILED BY THE AMERICAN SAMOA TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

# CC Docket No. 96-61

**Responses Due from ASTCA: February 21, 2006**

**Comment Date: March 3, 2006**

**Reply Comment Date: March 10, 2006**

In the *1996 Rate Averaging and Rate Integration Report and Order*, the
Commission adopted a rate integration rule that required providers of
interstate interexchange telecommunications services to provide services
to their subscribers in each State at rates no higher than the rates
charged to their subscribers in any other State.[^1] The Commission
determined that this rule should apply to all United States territories
and possessions, including those offshore points such as American Samoa.
Subsequently, as part of the *1997 Rate Integration Order*, the Common
Carrier Bureau found that American Samoa could implement several
measures to facilitate the ability of interexchange carriers (IXCs) to
integrate their service offerings to American Samoa with their service
offerings to the United States and other offshore points.[^2] The Common
Carrier Bureau further found that the record was incomplete as to
American Samoa's plans to facilitate rate integration. Therefore, the
Bureau encouraged American Samoa to file a rate integration plan and
temporarily suspended the obligation of IXCs to provide services on an
integrated basis to American Samoa, pending resolution of these issues.

On October 1, 1997, the American Samoa Government and the American Samoa
Office of Communications (ASOC), the precursor to the American Samoa
Telecommunications Authority (ASTCA), jointly filed the *1997 Rate
Integration Plan*.[^3] On May 3, 2004, the ASTCA filed an amendment to
the *1997 Rate Integration Plan* submitted by its predecessor, ASOC, and
the American Samoa Government.[^4] In the *2004 Amendment*, the ASTCA
asserted that it achieved several of the steps outlined in the *1997
Rate Integration Order*, but it did not provide its current rates for
the local, long distance, and interstate access services. In response,
AT&T and Blue Sky filed comments asserting that ASTCA had not
implemented all the measures set forth in the *1997 Rate Integration
Order.*[^5]

On October 31, 2005, ASTCA further supplemented the record in this
proceeding. It states that (1) American Samoa converted fully from an
international calling code to an NANP area code as of April 2, 2005; (2)
equal access and Feature Group D were fully implemented in ASTCA\'s
local switching office as of September 8, 2005; and (3) American Samoa
consumers had an opportunity to participate in two rounds of equal
access balloting conducted on June 10, 2005 and August 10, 2005.[^6]
ASTCA further states that it offers Feature Group D switched access
services at tariffed NECA access rates only to IXCs that choose to
establish physical Points of Presence within American Samoa.

Despite ASTCA's recent submission, the record in this proceeding may not
reflect all relevant developments since ASTCA filed its initial plan in
1997. For this reason, the Bureau requests that the Government of
American Samoa and the ASTCA respond to the attached questions. The
refreshed record will enable the Bureau to undertake appropriate
consideration of the rate integration plan and related amendments
jointly filed by the American Samoa Government, ASOC, and its successor,
ASTCA. The Government of American Samoa and ASTCA should submit their
responses to the attached questions no later than February 21, 2006.
Comments may be filed no later than March 3, 2006**.** Reply comments
may be filed no later than March 10, 2006**.**

As part of its review of the responses and related comments, the Bureau
will reconsider its suspension of the IXCs' obligation to provide rate
integrated service to American Samoa. If the Bureau determines that
American Samoa has presented sufficient evidence to support the approval
of its plan, the Bureau will lift the suspension of the rate integration
requirement for American Samoa. Thus, by a date certain to be specified
in a subsequent order, each IXC serving the territory will be required
to submit a plan to integrate its rate offerings to American Samoa.
Subsequent annual certifications of compliance with the Commission's
rate integration policies will incorporate American Samoa as part of
that certification.[^7]

Comments may be filed using the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS
can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. Generally, only one copy of an
electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking
numbers appear in the caption of the proceeding, 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, in this case, CC Docket No. 96-61. 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.\" 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 than 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, Room
TW-A325, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Parties should also
send a copy of their filings to Douglas Slotten, Pricing Policy
Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, Room 5-A233, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554, or
by e-mail to Douglas.Slotten@fcc.gov. Parties shall also serve one copy
with the Commission\'s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc.
(BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC
20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com.

The *1997 Rate Integration Plan* and all related pleadings filed in CC
Docket No. 96-61 are available for public inspection and copying during
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445
12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The documents may
also be purchased from BCPI, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202)
488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, or by e-mail at fcc@bcpiweb.com.

This matter shall be treated as a \"permit-but-disclose\" proceeding in
accordance with the Commission\'s *ex parte* rules. Persons making oral
*ex parte* presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the
presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the
presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More
than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments
presented generally is required. Other requirements pertaining to oral
and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the
Commission\'s rules.

For further information, contact Douglas Slotten of the Pricing Policy
Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418-1572, or by e-mail at
Douglas.Slotten@fcc.gov.

**--** **FCC --**

[^1]: *Policy and Rules Concerning the Interstate, Interexchange
    Marketplace; Implementation of Section 254(g) of the Communications
    Act of 1934, as amended*, CC Docket No. 96-61, Report and Order, 11
    FCC Rcd 9564 (1996) (*1996 Rate Averaging and Rate Integration
    Report and Order*), *aff\'d on recon*., 12 FCC Rcd 11812 (1997). The
    Commission suspended the obligation of wireless carriers to provide
    services on an integrated basis to American Samoa. *See* *Policy and
    Rules Concerning the Interstate, Interexchange Marketplace;
    Implementation of Section 254(g) of the Communications Act of 1934,
    as amended*, CC Docket No. 96-61, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15
    FCC Rcd 21066 (2000).

[^2]: *Policy and Rules Concerning the Interstate, Interexchange
    Marketplace; Implementation of Section 254(g) of the Communications
    Act of 1934, as amended*, CC Docket No. 96-91, Memorandum Opinion
    and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 11548, 11558 (Com. Car. Bur. 1997) (*1997 Rate
    Integration Order)*. Pursuant to a Commission reorganization in
    March 2002, the Common Carrier Bureau was re-named the Wireline
    Competition Bureau (Bureau).

[^3]: *See* Letter from David L. Sieradzki, Counsel for American Samoa,
    to William F. Caton, Acting Secretary, FCC (filed October 1, 1997)
    (*1997 Rate Integration Plan*).

[^4]: *See* Letter from David L. Sieradzki, Counsel for American Samoa,
    to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC (filed May 3, 2004) (*2004
    Amendment*); *see also Amendment to Rate Integration Plan Filed By
    American Samoa Telecommunications Authority*, CC Docket No. 96-61,
    Public Notice, 19 FCC Rcd 20353 (WCB 2004).

[^5]: *See* Blue Sky Comments at 2-5; AT&T Reply Comments at 5-9.

[^6]: *See* Letter from David L. Sieradzki, Esq., Counsel for ASTCA, to
    Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, (filed Oct. 31, 2005).

[^7]: 47 C.F.R. § 64.1900.