**Before the**

**FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

**DA 99-2744**

)

In the Matter of )

January 1, 2000 )

Access Charge Tariff Filings )

)

**ORDER**

Adopted: December 7, 1999 Released: December 8, 1999

By the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division:

**I. INTRODUCTION**

1\. The purpose of this Order is to facilitate incumbent local exchange
carrier (LEC) filing of their tariff filings to take effect on January
1, 2000 in response to the *Access Charge Reform Proceeding*.[^1] This
Order addresses the dates on which the tariff filings must be filed; the
dates for comments and replies to LEC tariff filings; and service of the
tariff filings, comments, and replies. In addition, this Order
establishes the filing procedures for the tariff filings. All
correspondence and comments in connection with these filings should be
designated in reference to January 1, 2000 Access Charge Reform Tariff
Filings.

######### DISCUSSION

A.  **Tariff Filing Dates and Procedures**

2\. LECs are permitted to make their tariff filings 15 days prior to the
effective date of their tariffs. Therefore, to file effective on January
1, 2000, LECs must file their tariffs on December 17, 1999. Because of
the holiday schedule during this period of time[^2], it will not be
possible to make a filing on seven days' notice. LECs must use the
Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS) to file all of their tariff
material.[^3] For price cap LECs, such material includes their Tariff
Review Plans (TRPs). LECs should make every effort to file as early as
they can in order to avoid any complications on meeting the December 17,
1999, 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time deadline for filing with the ETFS.
LEC filings must be received by ETFS after 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
on December 16, 1999 and no later than 7:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on
December 17th for the filing to be considered officially received on
December 17th. LECs are reminded that there are two remote filing sites
available, at the following addresses:

Chicago, IL http://207.241.53.107/

Los Angeles, CA http://www.fccetfs.com/

3\. In addition to filing the TRP on ETFS, each LEC filing a TRP should
provide the Competitive Pricing Division with two copies on disk. These
two copies should be marked ATTN: Raj Kannan, Fifth Floor, 445 12th
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. One copy of the TRP on disk should
also be given to the Commission\'s Commercial Contractor, ITS, 445
12^th^ Street, SW, Room CY-B400, Washington, DC 20554. Computer disk
copies of the TRP should be submitted in Lotus Release-3 format. We urge
carriers to run a computer virus check on each disk before submitting
those disks. The computer file on the disk should be named COSA0199
where \"COSA\" is the 4-character company study area code.

4\. Copies of the TRP filed on disk may be obtained from ITS (202)
857-3800 in Room CY-B400, 445 12^th^ Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Copies of any information filed electronically may be obtained via the
Internet using the ETFS at http://svartifoss.fcc.gov:8080/prod/ccb/etfs,
or from ITS. For more information, contact Raj Kannan at (202) 418-1540,
Common Carrier Bureau, Competitive Pricing Division.

**B. Pleading Filing Dates and Procedures**

5\. In order to provide as much time as possible for all parties to
review these filings, and still leave LECs sufficient time to respond to
other parties\' review of their tariff filings, we modify the normal
pleading cycle. Accordingly, petitions will be due December 22, 1999,
and replies will be due on December 27, 1999.

6\. Parties filing pleadings are encouraged to use ETFS in order to
facilitate access to these documents. Commenters and carriers filing in
paper format should file their originals with the Secretary with copies
to the Competitive Pricing Division and ITS. Commenters and carriers
filing electronically on the ETFS will not be required to file a copy
with the Competitive Pricing Division or ITS. For the purpose of this
tariff proceeding any comments and reply comments filed on the ETFS will
be considered as officially filed with the Commission. We caution
parties that the Commission\'s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
will not accept these comments and replies. We also invite members of
the general public to submit one copy of their comments, without regard
to form, by letter to the Secretary, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC
20554.

**C. Service**

7\. Because there is limited time available for review of the LEC tariff
filings, comments, and replies, we establish the following service
requirements for these filings. On the date one of these filings is
submitted to the Commission, it shall be served upon a party, its
attorney, or other duly constituted agent by hand delivery or by fax
transmission. Parties are instructed to provide contact persons and fax
numbers in their filings. LECs are directed to serve their complete
tariff filings, including accompanying cost studies, upon all persons
that filed comments to their 1999 annual access tariff filings.[^4]
Parties filing comments and replies electronically are reminded they are
still required to serve copies in accordance with Sections 1.773(a)(4)
and (b)(3) of the Commission\'s Rules,[^5] and as stated herein. We
waive the service requirement set forth in section 1.47(d) of the
Commission\'s rules for these filings.[^6]

**III. ORDERING CLAUSE**

8\. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Section 1.47(d) of the Commission\'s
Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.47(d), IS WAIVED for the purpose specified in
paragraph 7 *supra.*

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Jane E. Jackson

Chief, Competitive Pricing Division

Common Carrier Bureau

[^1]: ^?^ Access Charge Reform, *et. al.*, CC Docket No. 96-262,
    *et.al.*, First Report and Order, FCC 97-158 (rel. May 16, 1997)*;*
    Errata (rel. June 4, 1997); Order on Reconsideration, 12 FCC Rcd
    10119 (1997); Order on Reconsideration, FCC 97-368, 12 FCC Rcd 16606
    (1997); Third Order on Reconsideration, FCC 98-257 (rel. Oct. 5,
    1998). (*Access Charge Reform Proceeding*).

[^2]: ^?^ The Federal Communications Commission will be closed on
    Friday, December 24, 1999, and Friday, December 31, 1999, in
    observance of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, respectively.

[^3]: ^?^ 47 C.F.R. § 61.13(b).

[^4]: ^?^ [See]{.underline} Protested Tariff Transmittals Actions Taken,
    Public Notice, Report No. CCB/CPD-99-23 (CCB rel. June 30, 1999)

[^5]: ^?^ 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.773(a)(4) and (b)(3).

[^6]: ^?^ 47 C.F.R. § 1.47(d).