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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 52683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26702]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 73-97]

Foreign-Trade Zone 138--Columbus, Ohio, Application for Foreign-
Trade Subzone Status, Lucent Technologies Inc. (Telecommunications 
Equipment), Columbus, OH

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Rickenbacker Port Authority, grantee of FTZ 138, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the manufacturing and 
distribution facility (telecommunications equipment) of Lucent 
Technologies Inc., located in Columbus, Ohio. The application was 
submitted pursuant to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It 
was formally filed on September 29, 1997.
    The Lucent facility (3 buildings/2 million square feet on 252 
acres) are located at 6200 E. Broad Street in Columbus (Franklin 
County), Ohio. The facilities (5,000 employees) are used for the 
manufacture of telecommunications equipment, including wireless 
infrastructure products, and switching and networking equipment. A 
number of components are purchased from abroad (ranging, on average, 
from 10-30% of total material value) including amplifiers, printed 
circuit boards, semiconductors, integrated circuits, resistors, 
connectors, cable, housings for outlets, junctions and switches, wiring 
devices, and parts for telecommunications assemblies (1997 duty range: 
free-8.5%, most becoming duty-free by 2000). Some 35 percent of 
production is currently exported (expected to increase to 50 percent by 
2000).
    Zone procedures would exempt Lucent from Customs duty payments on 
foreign components used in export production. On its domestic sales, 
Lucent would be able to choose the lower duty rate that applies to the 
finished products (4.8%-8.5%, most becoming duty-free by 2000) for the 
foreign components noted above. The application indicates that the 
savings from zone procedures would help improve the plant's 
international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to 
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing 
period for their receipt is December 8, 1997. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to December 23, 1997. A 
copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be available 
for public inspection at each of the following locations.

Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20230.
U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 37 North High 
St., 4th Fl, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

    Dated: October 1, 1997.
John J. DaPonte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-26702 Filed 10-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M
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