Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/01/18/2018-00596/closure-of-fcc-lockbox-979091-used-to-file-fees-tariffs-petitions-and-applications-for-services
Timestamp: 2019-03-20 21:48:26
Document Index: 278177058

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 51', 'ART 0', 'arts 0', '§\u20090', '§\u200990', 'art 1', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', '§\u20091', 'art 51', '§\u200951', 'art 61', '§\u200961', '§\u200961', '§\u20091', '§\u200961', 'art 1', '§\u20091', '§\u200961', 'art 1', '§\u20091', 'art 1']

Federal Register :: Closure of FCC Lockbox 979091 Used To File Fees, Tariffs, Petitions, and Applications for Services Related to the Wireline Competition Bureau
A Rule by the Federal Communications Commission on 01/18/2018
83 FR 2554
2554-2557 (4 pages)
47 CFR Parts 51 and 61
PART 0—COMMISSION AND ORGANIZATION
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-00596 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-00596
This is a summary of the Commission's Order, FCC 17-159, MD Docket No. 17-357, adopted on December 1, 2017 and released on December 18, 2017. The full text of this document is available for public inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-A257), 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554, or by downloading the text from the Commission's website at http://transition.fcc.gov/​Daily_​Releases/​Daily_​Business/​2017/​db0906/​FCC-17-111A1.pdf.
4. In the Order, we reduce expenditures by the Commission and modernize procedures by amending section 1.1105 of our rules, 47 CFR 1.1105, which sets forth the application fee for petitions filed with the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB), to reflect the closure of the post office (P.O.) Box [1] used for manual filings with WCB. We require the use of an electronic payment system and, wherever possible, electronic filing. Consistent with this change, we also make conforming revisions to sections 0.401, 1.49, 1.51, 1.52, 1.742, 1.1105, 1.1111-1.1113, 1.1119, 51.329(c)(2), 61.13, 61.14, 61.17(d), and 61.20(b) of the Commission's rules, to account for electronic filing of fees, tariffs, petitions, and applications with the WCB, as described more fully below.
5. Section 1.1105 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1105, has provided a schedule of processing fees for applications, tariffs, and petitions processed by the WCB. The rule had also directed filers, who do not utilize the Commission's on-line filing and fee payment systems, to send manual filings and payments to P.O. Box 979091 at U.S. Bank in St. Louis, Missouri.
6. The Commission has reduced its use of P.O. Boxes for the collection of fees and encouraged the use of Start Printed Page 2555electronic payment systems for all application and regulatory fees.[2] We find that electronic payment of fees for applications, tariffs, and petitions processed by the WCB increases the agency's financial efficiency by reducing expenditures, including the annual fee for utilizing the bank's services as well as the cost to manually process each transaction, with little or no inconvenience to our regulatees, applicants and the public.[3]
7. As part of this effort, we are now closing P.O. Box 979091 and modifying the relevant rule provisions that require payment of fees and/or processing of filings via the closed P.O. Box. Our action here to close this lockbox and require electronic payments for any WCB-related fees, as well as encouraging the electronic filing of WCB-related petitions and applications, has implications for existing Commission regulations other than section 1.1105. Thus, we also revise sections 0.401, 1.49, 1.51, 1.52, 1.742, 1.1111, 1.1112, 1.1113, 1.1119, 51.329(c)(2), 61.13, 61.14, 61.17(d), and 61.20 of the Commission's rules. These additional rules are modified to eliminate references to P.O. Box 979091, encourage electronic filing of WCB related applications when practicable, and clarify where other filing rules only apply to paper filings to avoid confusion. For instance, sections 61.13, 61.14, 61.17(d) and 61.20(b) of our rules are revised to require carriers to utilize the electronic filing process for all tariff publications and related documents whenever practicable, and directs manual filers to the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary for procedures for submitting hard copies. The rule changes are contained in the Appendix of the Order. We make these changes without notice and comment because they are rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice exempt from the general notice-and-comment requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, see 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A).
8. Implementation. As a temporary transition measure, for 90 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register, payments and paper filings to P.O. Box 979091 will continue to be processed by U.S. Bank. After that date, payments for any WCB-related fee or service must be made in accordance with the procedures set forth on the Commission's website, https://www.fcc.gov/​licensing-databases/​fees. For now, such payments will be made through the Fee Filer Online System (Fee Filer), accessible at https://www.fcc.gov/​licensing-databases/​fees/​fee-filer. As we assess and implement U.S. Treasury initiatives toward an all-electronic payment system, we may transition to other secure payment systems with appropriate public notice and guidance. To file applications, tariffs and petitions processed by the WCB, parties should utilize, as applicable, the Commission's Electronic Tariff Filing System for tariffs, which can be found at https://apps.fcc.gov/​etfs/​etfsHome.action, or the Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) for domestic 214 and other filings referenced in section 1.1105, which can be found at http://apps.fcc.gov/​ecfs/​upload/​display. Petitions filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
9. Accordingly, it is ordered, that pursuant to sections 4(i), and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 154(j), the Order is hereby ADOPTED and the rules set forth in the Appendix of the Order are hereby AMENDED effective February 20, 2018.
Communications common carriers, and Federal buildings and facilities
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications Commission amends 47 CFR parts 0, 1, 51, and 61 as follows:
Authority: Section 5, 48 Stat. 1068, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 155, 225, unless otherwise noted.
2. Amend § 0.401 by revising paragraphs (a)(1)(iii), (b) introductory text, and (b)(1), removing paragraph (b)(2), and redesignating paragraph (b)(3) as paragraph (b)(2).
Applicants seeking a waiver or deferral of fees must submit their application or filing in accordance with the addresses set forth below. Applicants claiming a statutory exemption from the fees should file their applications in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section.
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau applications that require frequency coordination by certified coordinators must be submitted to the appropriate certified frequency coordinator before filing with the Commission. After coordination, the applications are filed with the Commission Start Printed Page 2556as set forth herein. (See §§ 90.127 and 90.175 of this chapter.)
3. The authority citation for part 1 is revised to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 34-39, 151, 154(i), 154(j), 155, 157, 160, 201, 225, 227, 303, 309, 332, 1403, 1404, 1451, 1452, and 1455.
4. Amend § 1.49 by revising the first sentence of paragraph (a) to read as follows:
(a) All pleadings and documents filed in paper form in any Commission proceeding shall be typewritten or prepared by mechanical processing methods, and shall be filed electronically or on paper with dimensions of A4 (21 cm. x 29.7 cm.) or on 81/2 x 11 inch (21.6 cm. x 27.9 cm.) with the margins set so that the printed material does not exceed 61/2 x 91/2 inches (16.5 cm. x 24.1 cm.). * * *
5. Amend § 1.51 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:
Number of copies of pleadings, briefs, and other papers.
6. Amend § 1.52 by revising the fifth sentence to read as follows:
Subscription and verification.
* * * If filed electronically, a signature will be considered any symbol executed or adopted by the party with the intent that such symbol be a signature, including symbols formed by computer-generated electronic impulses. * * *
7. Revise § 1.742 as follows:
§ 1.742
All applications which do not require a fee shall be filed electronically through the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System if practicable. Applications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary. Hand-delivered applications will be dated by the Secretary upon receipt (mailed applications will be dated by the Mail Branch) and then forwarded to the Wireline Competition Bureau. All applications accompanied by a fee payment should be filed in accordance with § 1.1105, Schedule of charges for applications and other filings for the wireline competition services.
8. Amend § 1.1105 by revising the introductory text to read as follows:
Remit payment for these services electronically using the Commission's electronic filing and payment system, and, where practicable, applications and other substantive filings, in accordance with the procedures set forth on the Commission's website, www.fcc.gov/​licensing-databases/​fees. Petitions, applications, and other substantive filings in hard copy format are to be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
9. Amend § 1.1111 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
10. Amend § 1.1112 by revising paragraph (g) to read as follows:
11. Amend § 1.1113 by revising paragraph (a)(1), adding a sentence to the end of paragraph (a)(2), and revising paragraph (a)(4) to read as follows:
(1) Tariff filings shall be filed with the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554. On the same day, the filer should submit a copy of the cover letter, the FCC Form 159, and the appropriate fee in accordance with the procedures established in § 1.1105.
(2) * * * Electronic payments must include the reference number contained on the bill sent by the Commission.
(4) Applicants claiming an exemption from a fee requirement for an application or other filing under 47 U.S.C. 158(d)(1) or § 1.1116 of this subpart shall file their applications in the appropriate location as set forth in the rules for the service for which they are applying, except that request for waiver accompanied by a tentative fee payment should be filed as set forth in §§ 1.1102 through 1.1109.
12. Amend § 1.1119 by revising paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) as follows:
(1) Petitions and applications for review submitted with a fee must be submitted electronically or to the Commission's lock box bank at the address for the appropriate service as set forth in §§ 1.1102 through 1.1107.Start Printed Page 2557
13. The authority citation for part 51 is revised to read as follows:
14. Amend § 51.329 by revising paragraph (c)(2) as follows:
Notice of network changes: Methods for providing notice.
15. The authority citation for part 61 is revised to read as follows:
16. Revise § 61.13 to read as follows:
(c) Tariff publications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
17. Amend § 61.14 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as follows:
(a) Publications filed electronically must be captioned to “Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.” The Electronic Tariff Filing System will accept filings 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The official filing date of a publication received by the Electronic Tariff Filing System will be determined by the date and time the transmission ends. If the transmission ends after the close of a business day, as that term is defined in § 1.4(e)(2) of this chapter, the filing will be date and time stamped as of the opening of the next business day.
(b) Carriers are strongly encouraged to submit publications electronically if practicable. Carriers need only transmit one set of files to the Commission. No other copies to any other party are required. Publications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
18. Amend § 61.17 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
(d) In addition, for special permission applications requiring fees as set forth in part 1, subpart G of this chapter, carriers shall submit the appropriate fee and associated payment form electronically through the process set forth in § 1.1105 of this chapter and, if practicable, the application and associated documents electronically in accordance with the procedures set forth on the Commission's website, www.fcc.gov/​licensing-databases/​fees. Applications which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
19. Amend § 61.20 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:
(b) In addition, all tariff publications requiring fees as set forth in part 1, subpart G of this chapter, shall be submitted electronically if practicable in accordance with § 1.1105 of this chapter along with the electronic submission of the payment online form. Petitions which must be filed in hard copy format should be submitted according to the procedures set forth on the web page of the FCC's Office of the Secretary, https://www.fcc.gov/​secretary.
2. The Commission previously revised its payment rules to encourage electronic payment of application processing fees and require electronic payment of regulatory fees. 47 CFR 1.1112 (application fees) and 1.1158 (regulatory fees). These rules became effective November 30, 2015. 80 FR 66816 (Oct. 30, 2015). More recently, in 2017, we closed a lockbox account and modified the relevant rule provision that required payment of fees via the closed P.O. Box. Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission's Rules, MD Docket No. 17-123, Order, 32 FCC Rcd 4203 (2017), 82 FR 24560 (rel. May 9, 2017) (modifying section 1.1109 of the Commission's rules to delete reference to P.O. Box 979092 at U.S. Bank in St. Louis, Missouri).
3. See Treasury Financial Manual, Bulletin No. 2017-12, “Agency No-Cash or No-Check Policies,” released on September 18, 2017 (explaining the circumstances under which agencies may decide not to accept payments made in cash or by check), available at https://tfm.fiscal.treasury.gov/​v1/​bull/​17-12.pdf (last visited October 18, 2017); see also https://www.gpo.gov/​fdsys/​pkg/​FR-2011-06-16/​pdf/​2011-15181.pdf.
[FR Doc. 2018-00596 Filed 1-17-18; 8:45 am]