[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 8, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66934]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28607]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 0, 1, and 64

[CC Docket No. 94-129; FCC 00-135]


Implementation of the Subscriber Carrier Selection Changes 
Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; Policies and Rules 
Concerning Unauthorized Changes of Consumers Long Distance Carriers

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the effective date of the amendments 
to certain liability rules in our slamming proceeding. We believe these 
modifications will strengthen the deterrent effect of our slamming 
liability rules, while addressing concerns raised with respect to the 
previous administrative procedures. The First Order on Reconsideration 
was published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2000. Some of the 
rules contained information collection requirements.

DATES: Sections 1.719(a) through (d), 64.1110(a) and (b), 64.1140(a) 
and (b), 64.1150(a) through (d), 64.1160(b) through (f), and 64.1170(b) 
through (f) published at 65 FR 47678 (August 3, 2000), were approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on October 3, 2000 and will 
become effective on November 28, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Walters or Dana Walton-
Bradford, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, (202) 418-
7400, TTY: (202) 418-0484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 3, 2000, the Commission released a 
First Order on Reconsideration (Order), 65 FR 47678 (August 3, 2000), 
that adopted revised slamming liability rules, granting in part 
petitions for reconsideration of our Section 258 Order, 64 FR 7763 
(February 16, 1999). Specifically, the revised rules provide that 
slamming disputes between consumers and unauthorized carriers may be 
brought before appropriate state commissions or this Commission, in 
cases where the state has not opted to administer our rules, rather 
than before authorized carriers. The Commission also modified the 
liability rules that apply when a consumer has paid charges to a 
slamming carrier. In such instances, our new rules require slamming 
carriers to pay 150% of the collected charges to the authorized 
carrier, which, in turn, will pay the consumer 50% of his or her 
original payment. Finally, the Commission sets forth certain 
notification requirements to facilitate carriers' compliance with the 
liability rules. The Commission believes these modifications will 
strengthen the deterrent effect of the slamming liability rules, while 
addressing concerns raised with respect to the previous administrative 
procedures. A summary of the Order was published in the Federal 
Register. See 65 FR 47678 (August 3, 2000). Some of the rules contained 
information collection requirements that required OMB approval. On 
October 3, 2000, OMB approved the information collections. See OMB No. 
3060-0787. The rule amendments adopted by the Commission in the Order 
will take effect on November 28, 2000. This publication satisfies the 
statement in the Order that the Commission would publish a document in 
the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the rules.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 0

    Classified information, Freedom of information, Reporting and 
recordkeeping.

47 CFR Part 1

    Administrative practice and procedure, Communications common 
carriers, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 64

    Communications common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Telephone.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-28607 Filed 11-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P