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X-x7.` ` On August 8, 1997, ATU requested a waiver of its obligation to respond to  X-questions 2, 8, 11(b), and 18 of the Data Request.=X2 yO-ԍ ATU Request at 23.= ATU states that it cannot provide the  X-looplength study called for in question 2 because it has never conducted such a study.;2 yO& -ԍ ATU Request at 2.; ATU further contends that it would be excessively burdensome for it to respond to questions 8 (structuresharing percentages), 11(b) (the cost of property disaggregated into installation and material costs) and 18 (the revenues according to class of customer) because it does not currently retain such information. ATU argues that it is significantly smaller than other respondents to the Data Request, and lacks access to the sophisticated data systems and  X -resources that would enable it to gather the information requested in these questions.; x2 yO,-ԍ ATU Request at 1.;  X - III. DISCUSSION ă  X - A.XxExtension and Waiver Requests (#  Xy-x8.` ` The timely receipt of information sought in the Data Request is essential to the stagedevaluation process established in the FNPRM. The Commission has committed to choosing the fixed algorithms and assumptions of a forwardlooking economic cost mechanism by January 1, 1998, in order to adopt a complete mechanism for determining high  X-cost support for nonrural carriers by August 1998.=2 yO-ԍ Order at para. 245.= The staged workplan established in the FNPRM was carefully structured to focus the resources of the model proponents, the public, the states, and the Commission staff on specific issues at the same time. It is therefore important that data relating to particular issues be available at the time those issues are being considered in the proceeding.  X-x9.` ` The information sought in the Data Request is relevant to every stage of the"0*.%.%""Q"  X-process established in the FNPRM.2 yOy-ԍ For example, the current contracts that carriers have with switch manufacturers (question 13 of the Data Request) may assist in determining the appropriate deployment of host and remote switches in a model, an issue  {O -that is being considered in the first stage of the FNPRM proceeding. See FNPRM at paras. 12122, App. A. The number of lines served by each digital line carrier device (question 14(b) of the Data Request) may affect the algorithm for estimating line count that will be evaluated during the second stage of the FNPRM proceeding.  {Oc-See FNPRM at paras. 4854, App. A.  We believe that receiving complete responses at one time, in identical spreadsheet formats, would assist us in aggregating and analyzing the data. We recognize, however, that requiring all of the information to be submitted at the initial stage of this proceeding places a burden on respondents. We further find that extending the deadline for filing responses to some of the questions will not impair the Commission's ability to determine the fixed algorithms and assumptions of a forwardlooking cost mechanism by January 1, 1998. We therefore extend, for all respondents, the deadline for responding to questions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, and 18 of the Data Request. We find that extending the time to respond to these questions will significantly reduce the burden on respondents, and will help ensure that responses are accurate and complete. We find, however, that the model development process will benefit significantly if the identified response data is available to the Commission staff and the public in advance of the September 24, 1997 comment deadline on outside plant design issues. We conclude that a fourweek extension, until September 12, 1997, will provide the respondents with significant additional time to gather the requested information, and will still allow Commission staff and other interested parties to consider the data in advance of the September 24, 1997 outside plant comment deadline. We find that granting an extension beyond September 12, 1997 might impair the ability of other interested  Xy-parties to analyze and address the data in comments that are due September 24, 1997. yD2 yOn-ԍ FNPRM at App. A. While the accessibility of the requested information in PRTC's records may limit, to a greater extent than other respondents, its ability to compile the information, we balance this with our need to receive the information in a timely manner. We expect that this extension will provide PRTC with sufficient time to respond to the specified questions.  XK- x 10.` ` PRTC also requests an extension to respond to question 1(c) and (d).>K, 2 yO(-ԍ PRTC Request at 23.> PRTC asserts that the information sought in this question "does not presently exist." We observe, however, that the information sought in question 1 relates to outside plant design issues and, for the reasons discussed above, should be available for the Commission staff and the public to analyze in advance of the September 24, 1997 comment deadline on outside plant design issues. Moreover, PRTC acknowledges that the information can be retrieved from its own records. We find that extending PRTC's deadline for responding to questions 1(c) and (d) until September 12, 1997 strikes an appropriate balance between giving PRTC additional time" 0*.%.%""4" it claims to need to respond to this question, and ensuring that interested parties have an adequate opportunity to consider the information before filing comments on September 24, 1997.  X-x 11.` ` PRTC states that it can file a partial response to question 2 (looplength studies), including urban areas only, on August 15, 1997, but that it has never performed looplength studies for the rural portions of its service area. It therefore requests an extension until November 15, 1997 to file complete looplength studies. ATU claims never to have performed any looplength studies and requests a waiver of its response to question 2. Because the largest portion of the cost of the telephone network results from the cost of the loop, looplength studies are crucial for verifying and refining the models' outside plant design modules. It is particularly important that we receive looplength data from PRTC and ATU as soon as possible because, as we stated in the Order, future versions of the cost models must compute forwardlooking costs for nonrural LECs serving Puerto Rico and  X -Alaska.X 2 yO7-ԍ The Commission determined in the Order that nonrural carriers serving Puerto Rico and Alaska should move to a forwardlooking economic mechanism at the same time as other nonrural carriers. Order at paras. 315, 317. We recognize, however, that looplength studies can take a significant amount of time to complete. We therefore deny ATU's request to waive its obligation to respond to question 2, but extend to November 15, 1997 the deadline for ATU, and to the extent that PRTC's looplength study does not include rural areas, for PRTC to file complete looplength studies.  X4-x 12.` ` PRTC claims that it does not maintain the data sought in questions 9 (multiline residential customers) and 18(c) (revenue generated by the purchase of additional lines by multiline residential customers). Stating that it has not determined how long it needs to compile the information, PRTC does not propose a specific deadline for these questions. As discussed above, we have extended the deadline for all parties to respond to these questions to September 12, 1997. PRTC must therefore provide responses to questions 9 and 8(c) according to this extended deadline. Until PRTC provides information responsive to questions 9 and 18(c), its revenue data will not be in the calculation of the benchmark used to determine high cost support for nonrural LECs.  XN-x 13.` ` PRTC has offered to submit a partial response to question 12 (costs for digital switches placed in service in 1995 and 1996) on August 15, 1997, but requests an extension  X -until September 24, 1997 to submit a complete response.< 2 yO"-ԍ PRTC Request at 3.< PRTC provides no specific reasons for the need for this request other than its general assertions that the information may" x0*.%.%""=" "not [be] maintained in the form in which the Bureau has requested it or is not available at  X-this time."<2 yOb-ԍ PRTC Request at 1.< GTE has requested an extension to August 22, 1997 to respond to question 12, asserting that the large number of switches that GTE has installed during the specified time period results in a volume of data that cannot be organized for submission by the original  X-deadline.=X2 yO-ԍ GTE Request at 12.= We observe that the information requested in question 12 relates to the models'  X-switching modules.U2 {O& -ԍ See generally FNPRM at paras. 12138.U Switching issues are being considered in the first stage of this  Xv-proceeding, which is currently in progress.: vz2 yO -ԍ FNPRM at App. A.: We therefore find that the deadline should not be extended beyond August 22, 1997. Accordingly, both GTE and PRTC shall provide the data requested in question 12 by August 22, 1997.  X1-  X -x 14.` ` We grant ATU's request to waive its responses to questions 8 (structuresharing percentages), 11(b) (material and installed costs in detailed continuing property records), and 18 (data relating to residential and business customers). ATU asserts that it does not currently maintain such data, and that it would be unduly burdensome for ATU to respond to these questions. We find that, because ATU is significantly smaller than the other parties to whom the data request is directed, the absence of this data regarding ATU would have a small impact on the overall cost calculations generated by a forwardlooking cost methodology. Accordingly, to the extent discussed herein, we grant ATU's request for a partial waiver.  XK- B.xSubmission of Data After August 15, 1997  X-x15.` ` To facilitate the compilation and review of parties' responses, the Data Request required the submission of most responses in one of three Commissionprovided Excel  X-spreadsheet formats.B! 2 yO-ԍ Data Request at para. 6.B Pursuant to the extended deadlines established in this Order Granting Extension of Time, parties may submit different portions of the requested data at different times. We seek to prevent these extensions from undermining the administrative advantages of receiving all submissions in standardized spreadsheet form. Therefore, parties submitting data after August 15, 1997 are required to resubmit the entire spreadsheet that is affected by the additional data (including the information submitted previously) with the new data added.  Xe-Parties may not alter previously submitted information in subsequent submissions. "P!0*.%.%"""Ԍ X- }IV. CONCLUSION ă  X-x16.` ` In this Order, we grant in part and deny in part requests for extensions of the time to respond to the Data Request. We also grant in part and deny in part ATU's request for a partial waiver of the Data Request. We extend the deadlines for responses to certain questions, for certain respondents, and waive ATU's obligation to respond to certain  Xv-questions, according to the following revised schedule. On or before August 15, 1997, all respondents must respond to questions 1 (except for PRTC regarding 1(c) and 1(d)), 2 (except for PRTC, regarding rural areas, and ATU), 4, 10, 12 (except for GTE and PRTC), 13, 15,  X1-16, 17, 19, 20, and 21. On or before August 22, 1997, GTE and PRTC must respond to  X -question 12. On or before September 12, 1997, all respondents must respond to questions 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 (except ATU), 9, 11, 14, and 18 (except ATU regarding 11(b)). On or before November 15, 1997, PRTC and ATU must submit complete responses to question 2.  X - 6V. ORDERING CLAUSES  X- x17.` ` Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 5(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  151, 154(i), 155(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403, and Sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, IT IS ORDERED that the United States Telephone Association's Request for Extension of Time to File Data, on behalf of the RHCs, GTE, and Sprint, IS GRANTED to the extent described herein and otherwise IS DENIED.  X-x18.` ` IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 5(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  151, 154(i), 155(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403, and Sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, that Puerto Rico Telephone Company's Request for Extension of Time IS GRANTED to the extent described herein and otherwise IS DENIED. x  XN-x19.` ` IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 5(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  151, 154(i), 155(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403, and Sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, that GTE Service Corporation's Request for Extension of Time to File Data IS GRANTED.  X -x20.` ` IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 1, 4(i), 5(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  151, 154(i), 155(c), 201, 202, 218220, 254, and 403, and Sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, 0.291, and 1.3, that Anchorage Telephone Utility's"#!0*.%.%""G"" Request for  Partial Waiver of Data Submission IS GRANTED to the extent described herein and otherwise IS DENIED. x` `  hhFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION  XH- x` `  hhRegina M. Keeney x` `  hhChief, Common Carrier Bureau X -