55204 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 1997 / Proposed Rules

1This document was received by the Office of the

Federal Register on October 20, 1997.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[CS Docket No. 97–151; DA 97–2181]

Pole Attachments

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of

time.

SUMMARY: The Cable Services Bureau,

released an Order which granted the

Motion for Extension of Time filed by

the United States Telephone

Association (‘‘USTA’’) and the Carolina

Power & Light Company, Delmarva

Power & Light Company, Atlantic City

Electric Company, Entergy Services,

Florida Power Corporation, Pacific Gas

and Electric Power Company, Potomac

Electric Power Company, Public Service

Company of Colorado, Southern

Company, Georgia Power, Alabama

Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power,

Savannah Electric, Tampa Electric

Company and Virginia Power, including

North Carolina Power (collectively,

‘‘Electric Utilities’’) in Implementation

of Section 703 (e) of the

Telecommunications Act of 1996,

Amendment of Rules and Policies

Governing Pole Attachments (Notice of

Proposed Rulemaking’’. The Bureau

found that good cause existed to grant

a one week extension of time from

October 14, 1997 to October 21, 1997.

This extension of time is granted in

order to facilitate the development of a

complete record in this proceeding.

DATES: Reply comments are now due on

or before October 21, 1997.1

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary,

Federal Communications Commission,

1919 M Street, N.W., Room 222,

Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Elizabeth Beaty, Cable Services Bureau,

(202) 418–2294, TTY (202) 418–7172.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Cable Services Bureau’s

Order, CS Docket No. 97–151, DA 97–

2181, adopted October 9, 1997 and

released October 10, 1997, in

Implementation of Section 703(e) of the

Telecommunications Act of 1996,

Amendment of Rules and Policies

Governing Pole Attachments, 62 FR

43963 (August 18, 1997). The full text

of this decision is available for

inspection and copying during normal

business hours in the FCC Reference

Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, NW,

Washington, D.C. 20554, and may be

purchased from the Commission’s copy

contractor, International Transcription

Service, (202) 857–3800, 1231 20th

Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

For copies in alternative formats, such

as braille, audio cassette, or large print,

please contact Sheila Ray at

International Transcription Service.

Synopsis of the Order

1. On August 12, 1997, the

Commission commenced a rulemaking

proceeding to seek comment on the

implementation of a methodology to

ensure just, reasonable, and

nondiscriminatory maximum pole

attachment rates for

telecommunications carriers. Comments

were due September 26, 1997, and reply

comments were due October 14, 1997.

2. On October 6, 1997, the United

States Telephone Association (‘‘USTA’’)

and the Carolina Power & Light

Company, Delmarva Power & Light

Company, Atlantic City Electric

Company, Entergy Services, Florida

Power Corporation, Pacific Gas and

Electric Power Company, Potomac

Electric Power Company, Public Service

Company of Colorado, Southern

Company, Georgia Power, Alabama

Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power,

Savannah Electric, Tampa Electric

Company and Virginia Power, including

North Carolina Power (collectively,

‘‘Electric Utilities’’) filed a Motion for

Extension of Time (‘‘Motion’’) to file

reply comments. USTA and the Electric

Utilities request that the Commission

grant a two week extension of time to

file reply comments, from October 14,

1997 to October 28, 1997. The USTA

and Electric Utilities request an

extension of time because, in addition to

the complex and new issues raised by

implementation of section 703(e) of the

Telecommunications Act of 1996, they

allege that the issues raised in the initial

comments in this proceeding are prolific

and contain complex administrative and

technical issues. They contend that

granting an extension of time will allow

the parties to confer with one another

and allow representatives of the local

exchange carrier and electric utility

industries time to collaborate on issues

that they may have in common.

3. It is the policy of the Commission

that extensions of time are not routinely

granted. In order to facilitate

development of a complete record in

this proceeding, we find that good cause

exists to grant an extension of time.

However, because the

Telecommunications Act of 1996 has

mandated that the Commission

prescribe and implement the new

telecommunications rate methodology

within specified deadlines, we find that

a two week extension of time is not

possible. Therefore, we will grant a one

week extension of time in which to file

reply comments. Thus, reply comments

will now be due on October 21, 1997.

Ordering Clauses

4. Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant

to §§ 0.321 and 1.46 of the

Commission’s rules, 47 CFR 0.321 and

1.46, that the Motion for Extension of

Time filed by the United States

Telephone Association and the Carolina

Power & Light Company, Delmarva

Power & Light Company, Atlantic City

Electric Company, Entergy Services,

Florida Power Corporation, Pacific Gas

and Electric Power Company, Potomac

Electric Power Company, Public Service

Company of Colorado, Southern

Company, Georgia Power, Alabama

Power, Gulf Power, Mississippi Power,

Savannah Electric, Tampa Electric

Company and Virginia Power, including

North Carolina Power is granted.

5. It is further ordered that all

interested parties may file reply

comments on the matters discussed in

the Commission’s Notice of Proposed

Rulemaking by October 21, 1997.

Federal Communications Commission.

Meredith J. Jones,

Chief, Cable Services Bureau.

[FR Doc. 97–28091 Filed 10–22–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

49 CFR Parts 216, 223, 229, 231, 232,

and 238

[FRA Docket No. PCSS–1, Notice No. 3]

RIN 2130–AA95

Passenger Equipment Safety

Standards

AGENCY: Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA), Department of

Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking;

date and location of public hearing.

SUMMARY: By notice of proposed

rulemaking (NPRM) published on

September 23, 1997 (62 FR 49728), FRA

proposed a rule establishing

comprehensive safety standards for

railroad passenger equipment. In that

notice, FRA announced that it would

schedule a public hearing to allow

interested parties the opportunity to

comment on issues addressed in the

NPRM.

DATES: Public Hearing: The date of the

public hearing is Friday, November 21,