WPC8 2 BJZCourier3|]x6X@KX@HP LaserJet 4 PostScript in 518_1HPLA4POS.PRSx  @hhhhEX@ X-#X\  P6G;P#X01Í ÍX01Í Í#Xj\  P6G;XP#2@<LPXLCourierTimes Roman"S^*8DSS888S^*8*.SSSSSSSSSS..^^^Jxooxf]xx8Axfxx]xo]fxxxxf8.8NS8JSJSJ8SS..S.SSSS8A.SSxSSJP!PZ8*888888888888S.xJxJxJxJxJooJfJfJfJfJ8.8.8.8.xSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxSxJxSxSxSxSxS]SxJxJoJoJoJoJxSfJfJfJfJxSxSxSxSxSxSxS8S8S888SA8xSf.f8f8f8f.xSxSxSxSxSxo8o8o8]A]A]A]Af8f8f8xSxSxSxSxxSfJfJN:*LS8JSSSSS.4}}S2S}2JJS88SS]]8J2t^^\\^^ee*C^.wR)Ewn\1fy\r\Sxx\rT?xxxx6X@KX@ y.]8*]\  PCP7oC2o\  PCXPierT?xxxx6X@KX@"S^2CRddCCCdq2C28dddddddddd88qqqYzoCNzoozzC8C^dCYdYdYCdd88d8ddddCN8ddddY`(`lC2CC!CCCCCCCCCCd8YYYYYYzYzYzYzYC8C8C8C8ddddddddddYdddddodYYYYYYdzYzYzYzYdddddddCdCdCCCdNCdz8zCzCzCz8dddddCCCoNoNoNoNzCzCzCdddddzYzYNF2[dCYddddd7>d<d<$YYdCCddooCYd<d<$YYdCCddooCYd<d<+oodCCddddCocomputer file containing the TRP in a LOTUS Version3 file. A 3.5inch disk containing the  xTRP file will be sent directly to all LECs. This TRP file is similar to the format of the price cap TRP file that has proven successful."= 0*(("Ԍ X- pԙx` ` 25. Rateofreturn LECs are required to file one year of historical data and one  xyear of forecast data. All proposed rates must be based upon the forecast data. The time frame  x=of the historical data, termed the past year costofservice (PYCOS) period, and of the forecast  X- xdata, termed the test year, are determined pursuant to Section 61.38 of the Rules. The PYCOS  xperiod is calendar year 1996 and the test year runs from July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998 for the 1997 annual filings.  X_- B.x Small Telephone Companies  X1- px` ` 26. LECs that qualify as small telephone companies may elect to file pursuant  X - xto the small telephone company rules under Section 61.39,X g yO - xi#]\  PCP#Ѝ Some companies that, on their own, would qualify as small telephone companies are not so classified either  xbecause 1) they are affiliated with companies that are NECA Subset 2 companies or 2) the combined study areas of a company and its affiliates are greater than 50,000 access lines. for either their traffic sensitive rates,  xcommon line rates, or both. Companies filing under the small company rules must file access  X - xtariffs for their traffic sensitive and common line rates in oddnumbered years, g X-#]\  PCP##]\  PCP#25#o\  PCXP# #]\  PCP#47 C.F.R.  69.3(f). and are thus required to make a 1997 annual filing in most circumstances.  X - px` ` 27. LECs filing under the small company rules need not submit supporting  xmaterial at the time of the access tariff filing. Companies, however, should be prepared to submit  Xy-the data promptly upon reasonable request by the Commission or interested parties.hyg yO-#]\  PCP#э 47 C.F.R.  61.39(b).h  XK- px` ` 28. In contrast to rateofreturn regulation, the small company rules rely on  x[historical costs. For its first annual filing, a LEC is required to propose rates based on the cost  xof service and demand for the most recent twelve months. For subsequent annual filings, a LEC bases rates on the cost and demand for the two years since the last annual filing.  X- C.x Optional Incentive Regulation  X- p5x` ` 29. Any nonprice cap company may elect optional incentive regulation for  xeither its traffic sensitive rates only, or for both its traffic sensitive and common line rates. In  xicontrast to rateofreturn regulation, optional incentive regulation relies more heavily on historical costs, establishes broader earnings bands, and affords the LECs greater pricing flexibility.  X7- ` 3x` ` 30. We have not adopted a TRP for companies filing under optional incentive  X - xregulation. For any carrier planning to file in 1997 under optional incentive regulation, the Competitive Pricing Division will provide guidance regarding specific support material.  X-  px` ` 31. For its first annual filing, a LEC must base its rates on the cost of service" )0*(("  xand related demand for the most recent twelve months. For subsequent annual filings, a LEC  xis required to base its rates on the cost of service and demand for the two year period since the last annual filing.  X-  IV. GUIDELINES APPLICABLE TO NECA ă  Xv- p&x` ` 32. We have not adopted a TRP for NECA, although NECA should refer to  x=the rateofreturn TRP for guidance on the level of Section 61.38 support material to provide in  xits annual filing. As in the past, NECA should provide: (1) earnings data using the Chart ERN1  x>format; (2) average schedule company settlements using the Chart COS1 format; and (3) a workpaper showing the calculation of Long Term Support.  X -  V. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ă  X - pcx` `  33. The following general instructions apply to all LECs except as noted.  X - xExcept for Section V.B., infra, the following general instructions also apply to NECA. These instructions pertain to the TRPs and other documentation filed in support of access charges.  Xd- A.x Certification  X6- px` ` !34. The filing of inaccurate or incomplete data may seriously detract from the  xability of the Commission and interested parties to evaluate the revised rates. The LECs and  xzNECA must certify that their historical and forecast data are accurate by including a signed  xlstatement that the support data are true, correct, and complete to the best of the carrier's  xlknowledge. This certification will apply to all data submitted in support of revised rates,  xincluding the data that are filed in the TRP. The text of the certification is the same as that  X- xLadopted in the 1987 Waiver Order. g yO%- x#]\  PCP#Ѝ Annual 1987 Access Tariff Filings, Petitions for Waivers of Filing Requirements, Mimeo No. 6945 (rel. Sept.  {O-16, 1986) (1987 Waiver Order).  The certification should be displayed as the last page in  xthe binder containing each company's TRP. LECs are also under a legal obligation to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data discovered in the TRP or other support data.  XR- B.x Geographic Aggregation  X$- psx` ` "35. Except for the RTE and ERN charts, all TRP information should be  xdisplayed at the same level of geographic aggregation as the LEC's proposed rates. RTE and  xERN carriers should be consistent with the current level of geographic aggregation. In addition,  xif the tariff rates are based on data from a number of study areas or operating companies, levels  xof aggregation associated with each study area (state) and operating company should be provided by carriers (except for Charts RTE, ERN, and REV).  X#- C.x Assistance from United States Telephone Association (USTA) "l$ "0*((F#"Ԍ X- px` ` #36. As in past years, to assist the Commission and interested parties in  xievaluating the national impact of revised rates, we request that USTA provide us with aggregated  xTRP data for all price cap LECs, except for those charts or portions of charts for which aggregation is inappropriate.  X- D.x Waivers  X_-  pSx` ` $37. If carriers find that they are unable to provide data in the TRP, they may  x file applications for waiver. These waiver applications should demonstrate good cause for  xreporting a different or lower level of detail than specified and should indicate how the carrier  xNintends to report complete TRP data in the future. Each carrier requesting any waiver of  xLCommission Rules should include all such requests in a single application. Carriers should not  xdelay undertaking development of data for the 1997 TRP in anticipation that waiver requests will be granted.  X - E.xTechnical Instructions  Xy- pCx` ` %38. Consistent with TRP filings in previous years, all companies that file a TRP should provide the data in a computer disk file, as detailed in the Attachments.  X4- F.xCompliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act  X- px` ` &39. The TRPs are subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget  x.(OMB) in accordance with the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.,  3506  xet seq. On September 23, 1996, OMB approved the TRPs through September 30, 1999 (OMB  xControl No. 30600400). In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, we estimate  xburden-hours and place the Office of Management and Budget form number and date on the  xformats included in the Appendices. We note that these TRPs were developed after informal  xdiscussions with LECs and other industry representatives and after evaluation of comments filed  Xe- xin response to our 1997 TRP Public Notice. We minimize the regulatory burden on the LECs  xby deleting obsolete sections of the TRP that have not proved useful, and carriers need not file  xhistorical data that have been filed in previous years. Overall, the burden this year is unchanged  xjfrom that imposed by the 1996 annual access tariff charge filings, and smaller LECs continue to report significantly fewer data than larger companies.  X- G.xProcedural Matters  X!- px` ` '40. This document will be sent directly to all carriers that will file their own  xannual access tariffs. A copy of the document and all attachments will be available for  xinspection at the Public Reference Room, Common Carrier Bureau, Room 574, 2000 M St.,  xN.W., Washington, DC, 20037. The Commission will publish the text of this document in the  xKFCC Record. Copies of Appendices can be obtained through International Transcription Service,  xInc. (ITS), the Commission's contractor for public records duplication. Further details regarding the procedures applicable to the 1997 annual access tariff filings are provided in the Attachments."%' 0*((%"Ԍ ř x` `  hh@FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION x` `  hh@James D. Schlichting x` `  hh@Chief, Competitive Pricing Division x` `  hh@Common Carrier Bureau   yO -#]\  PCP#