[Ecommerce] FCC PN on Open Access NOI (new deadlines)

[James Love]

INQUIRY CONCERNING HIGH-SPEED ACCESS
TO THE INTERNET OVER CABLE AND OTHER FACILITIES

PLEADING CYCLE EXTENDED;

AND

UNITED STATES TELECOM ASSOCIATION FILES
PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING REGARDING
UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATIONS OF CABLE OPERATORS

PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED

GN Docket No. 00-185

Release Date:  October 12, 2000

Comment Date:  Friday, December 1, 2000
Reply Comment Date:  Wednesday, January 10, 2001

On September 28, 2000, the Commission adopted and released a Notice of
Inquiry (NOI) seeking public comment on several matters related to
high-speed access to the Internet over cable and other facilities.   The NO=
I
established comment and reply comment deadlines of 45 days and 75 days afte=
r
publication of the NOI in the Federal Register, which occurred on October
11, 2000.

Due to the intervening holidays, we hereby extend the comment and reply
comment deadlines.  Pursuant to procedures set forth in the NOI, interested
parties may file comments on the NOI on or before Friday, December 1, 2000,
and reply comments on or before Wednesday, January 10, 2001.  Parties shoul=
d
refer to the procedural matters set forth in the NOI (paragraphs 57-64) for
specific instruction on filing procedures.

In addition, on September 26, 2000, the United States Telecom Association
(USTA) filed, pursuant to section 1.2 of the Commission's rules, a petition
requesting that the Commission issue a declaratory ruling that cable
operators or their affiliates that provide telecommunications services are
required to contribute to universal service pursuant to section 254(d) of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Commission's
regulations.

Parties wishing to comment on the issues raised by USTA in its petition for
declaratory ruling should file written comments and reply comments in GN
Docket No. 00-185, pursuant to procedures established for the NOI and on or
before the dates set forth above.  In addition to the number of copies
identified in the NOI, parties commenting on the issues raised by the USTA
petition must also send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl Todd,
Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 Twelfth Street S.W., Room 5-B540, Washington, D.C. 20554.

As set forth in the NOI (paragraph 61), parties are reminded that this
proceeding has been designated a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in
accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.  See 47 C.F.R. =A7=A7 1.12=
00,
1.1206.  Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that
memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the
substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects
discussed.  Parties should consult the NOI for further information
concerning the applicable ex parte procedures.

For further information, contact:  Johanna Mikes or Christopher Libertelli,
Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-1580; William Johnson, Cable Services Bureau, at (202) 418-7200; Robert
Cannon, Office of Plans and Policy, at (202) 418-2030; or Douglas Sicker,
Office of Engineering and Technology, at (202) 418-2478.  Information
regarding this proceeding is also available at the following FCC web page:
www.fcc.gov/broadband/.

For further information regarding the USTA petition, contact:  Katherine
Schroder, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484.