Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Rules and Regulations 47371

completing the Universal Service

Worksheet. In order to facilitate the

timely filing of Universal Service

Worksheets and implementation of the

universal service support mechanisms,

and because the action we take

represents an interim solution to a

problem that will be addressed more

comprehensively in a forthcoming order

on reconsideration of the Universal

Service Order, in CC Docket No. 96–45,

we find that compliance with the notice

and comment provisions of the APA is

impracticable at this time.

III. Procedural Matters

Effective Date

We find that the conclusions adopted

herein should become effective

immediately upon release of the Order.

IV. Ordering Clauses

Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to

sections 1–4, 254 of the

Communications Act of 1934, as

amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151–154, and

254 that the Order on Reconsideration

of the Report and Order and Second

Order on Reconsideration in CC Docket

Nos. 97–21 and 96–45, FCC 97–253, is

adopted.

It is further ordered, pursuant to

sections 1–4, 254 of the

Communications Act of 1934, as

amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151–154, and

254 that the Second Report and Order

in CC Docket No. 96–45 is adopted.

It is further ordered that the

conclusions adopted in this order shall

become effective immediately upon

release of this Order.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 54

Universal Service.

47 CFR Part 64

Communications common carriers.

47 CFR Part 69

Communications common carriers.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–23829 Filed 9–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR PART 68

[CC Docket Nos. 96–128 and 91–35; DA 97–

1793]

Pay Telephone Equipment

Grandfathering

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Memorandum Opinion and

Order.

SUMMARY: The Federal Communications

Commission (Commission) amends its

rules concerning the connection of

terminal equipment to the telephone

network. The amendments allow certain

terminal equipment presently connected

to a central-office-implemented

payphone to remain connected without

registration. Registration is required,

however, if such equipment is modified.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 5, 1997

ADDRESSES: This document may be

viewed at the Federal Communications

Commission, Reference Center, Room

239, 1919 M Street NW, Washington, DC

20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Technical Information: William Von

Alven, 202–418–2342.

Legal Information: Alan Thomas, 202–

418–2338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

adopted rules are part of the

Commission’s efforts to ensure that

competition among payphone providers

exists by enabling independent

payphone providers to use centraloffice-implemented coin pay telephones

as well as instrument-implemented

payphones. The adopted rules provide

that terminal equipment, including

premises wiring, that is directly

connected to a central-officeimplemented telephone on or before

October 8, 1997, does not have to be

registered, unless subsequently

modified. Modifications are any changes

that affect the Part-68 related

characteristics of that equipment at the

network interface. Additionally, new

installations of terminal equipment,

including premises wiring, may occur

until April 8, 1999, without registration

of any central-office-implemented

telephone equipment involved,

provided that the terminal equipment is

of a type directly connected to a centraloffice-implemented telephone as of

October 8, 1997.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 68

Communications common carriers,

Communications equipment, Reporting

and recordkeeping requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

Rule Changes

Part 68 of Title 47 of the Code of

Federal Regulations is amended to read

as follows:

PART 68—CONNECTION OF

TERMINAL EQUIPMENT TO THE

TELEPHONE NETWORK

1. The authority citation for Part 68

continues to read:

Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 155.

2. Section 68.2 is amended by adding

a new paragraph (l) before the

concluding paragraph to read as follows:

§ 68.2 Scope.

* * * * *

(l) Grandfathered central office

implemented payphone equipment. (1)

Terminal equipment, including its

premises wiring, that is directly

connected to a central-officeimplemented telephone on or before

October 8, 1997, may remain for service

life without registration, unless

subsequently modified. Service life

means that life of the equipment until

retired from service. Modification

means changes to the equipment that

affect the Part 68-related characteristics

of that equipment at the network

interface.

(2) New installation of terminal

equipment, including its premises

wiring, may occur until April 8, 1999,

without registration of any centraloffice-implemented telephone

equipment involved, provided that the

terminal equipment is of a type directly

connected to a central-officeimplemented telephone as of October 8,

1997. This terminal equipment may

remain connected and be reconnected to

a central-office-implemented telephone.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 97–23528 Filed 9–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

Radio Broadcasting Services; Various

Locations

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission, on its own

motion, editorially amends the Table of

FM Allotments to specify the actual