**DA 08-1904**

**August 13, 2008**

**WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU GRANTS EXTENSION OF TIME**

**TO FILE COMMENTS ON AT&T'S PETITION FOR AN INTERIM DECLARATORY RULING
AND LIMITED WAIVERS**

**WC Docket No. 08-152**

**Comments Due: August 21, 2008**

**Reply Comments Due: September 2, 2008**

On July 17, 2008, AT&T filed a petition that, absent "comprehensive
reform," seeks interim declaratory ruling and limited waivers regarding
access charges.[^1] Specifically, AT&T asks the Commission to "clarify
the applicability of access charges to interexchange" Internet
protocol/public switched telephone network (IP/PSTN) traffic.[^2] In
addition, AT&T seeks "limited waivers of \[the Commission's\] rules
governing \[subscriber line charges\] and switched access charges." [^3]
On July 24, 2008, the Commission established a pleading cycle for
comments on the AT&T Petition.[^4] The current deadline for comments is
August 14, 2008, and the current deadline for reply comments is August
25, 2008.

On August 6, 2008, COMPTEL, on behalf of its member companies, filed a
Motion for Extension of Time.[^5] On August 8, 2008, the Independent
Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance (ITTA), National Exchange
Carrier Association, Inc. (NECA), Organization for the Promotion and
Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies (OPASTCO), and the
Western Telecommunications Alliance (WTA) (collectively, the
Associations) filed a Motion for Consolidation of Proceedings and
Extension of Filing Deadline.[^6] On August 8, 2008, the National
Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) also filed a
Motion for Extension of Time.[^7] In support of their motions, COMPTEL
and NARUC explain that the current deadline does not allow enough time
for them to complete an analysis and provide comments on the important
issues raised by the AT&T Petition.[^8] In addition, NARUC claims that
the extension of time will serve the public interest by ensuring that
the state commissions will be able to participate in the proceeding.[^9]
COMPTEL states that an extension of time will not prejudice other
parties in this proceeding.[^10]

We note that it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time
shall not be routinely granted.[^11] However, given the complexity of
the issues, the additional time will give all interested parties
additional time to file comments, which should lead to a more complete
and better-informed record. We thus find that good cause exists to
provide all parties an extension of time from August 14, 2008 to
**August 21, 2008** for filing comments in this proceeding and from
August 25, 2008 to **September 2, 2008** for filing reply comments in
this proceeding.

For further information, contact Victoria Goldberg, Attorney Advisor,
Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418-1520.

\- FCC -

[^1]: *See* Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and
    Limited Waivers, WC Docket No. 08-152, at 3-4 (filed July 17, 2008)
    (AT&T Petition).

[^2]: *Id*. at 26-41.

[^3]: *Id.* at 42-50.

[^4]: *Petition of AT&T for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited
    Waivers Pleading Cycle Established*, Public Notice, WC Docket No.
    08-152, DA 08-1725 (WCB rel. July 24, 2008).

[^5]: Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited
    Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Motion for
    Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 08-152 (filed Aug. 6, 2008)
    (COMPTEL Motion).

[^6]: Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited
    Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Petition for
    Waiver of Embarq Local Operating Companies of Sections 61.3 and
    61.44-61.48 of the Commission's Rules, and any Associated Rules
    Necessary to Permit it to Unify Switched Access Charges Between
    Interstate and Intrastate Jurisdictions, Motion for Consolidation of
    Proceedings and Extension of Filing Deadline, WC Docket Nos. 08-152,
    08-160 (filed Aug. 8, 2008) (the Associations' Motion).

[^7]: Petition of AT&T Inc. for Interim Declaratory Ruling and Limited
    Waivers Regarding Access Charges and the ESP Exemption, Motion for
    Extension of Time, WC Docket No. 08-152 (filed Aug. 8, 2008) (NARUC
    Motion).

[^8]: *See* COMPTEL Motion at 2; NARUC Motion at 3.

[^9]: NARUC Motion at 3.

[^10]: COMPTEL Motion at 2.

[^11]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).