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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 98-2522 ) In the Matter of ) January 1, 1999 ) Access Charge Tariff Filings ) ) ORDER Adopted: December 9, 1998 Released: December 9, 1998 By the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division: I. INTRODUCTION 1. The purpose of this Order is to facilitate incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) filings of their tariff filings to take effect on January 1, 1999 in response to the Access Charge Reform Proceeding, and the quarterly adjustment of the universal service contribution. This Order addresses the dates on which the tariff filings must be filed; the dates for comments and replies to LEC tariff filings; and service of the tariff filings, comments, and replies. In addition, this Order establishes the filing procedures for the tariff filings. All correspondence and comments in connection with these filings should be designated in reference to January 1, 1999 Access Charge Tariff Filings. II. DISCUSSION A. Tariff Filing Dates and Procedures 2. LECs are permitted to make their tariff filings 15 days prior to the effective date of their tariffs. Therefore, to file effective on January 1, 1999, LECs must file their tariffs on December 17, 1998. LECs must use the Electronic Tariff Filing System (ETFS) to file all of their tariff material. For price cap LECs, such material includes their Tariff Review Plans (TRPs). LECs should make every effort to file as early as they can in order to avoid any complications on meeting the December 17, 1998, 5:30PM eastern standard time deadline for filing with the ETFS. LEC filings must be received by ETFS any time after 5:30PM eastern standard time on December 16, 1998, and up to 5:30PM eastern standard time on December 17th for the filing to be considered officially received on December 17th. LECs are reminded that there are two remote filing sites available, at the following addresses: Chicago, IL http://207.241.53.107/ Los Angeles, CA http://www.fccetfs.com/ 3. In addition to filing the TRP on ETFS, each LEC filing a TRP should provide the Competitive Pricing Division with two copies on disk. These two copies should be marked ATTN: Raj Kannan, Room 518, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20554. One copy of the TRP on disk should also be given to the Commission's Commercial Contractor, ITS, Room 535, 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20054. Computer disk copies of the TRP should be submitted in Lotus Release-3 format. We urge carriers to run a computer virus check on each disk before submitting those disks. The computer file on the disk should be named COSA0199 where "COSA" is the 4-character company study area code. 4. Copies of the TRP filed on disk may be obtained from ITS (202) 857-3800 in Room 246, 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554. Copies of any information filed electronically may be obtained via the Internet using the ETFS at http://svartifoss.fcc.gov:8080/prod/ccb/etfs, or from ITS. For more information, contact Aaron Goldschmidt at 202/418-1520 or Raj Kannan at 202/418-1540, Common Carrier Bureau, Competitive Pricing Division. B. Pleading Filing Dates and Procedures 5. In order to provide as much time as possible for all parties to review these filings, and still leave LECs sufficient time to respond to other parties' review of their tariff filings, we modify the normal pleading cycle. Accordingly, petitions will be due December 23, 1998, and replies will be due on December 29, 1998. 6. Parties filing pleadings are encouraged to use ETFS in order to facilitate access to these documents. Commenters and carriers filing in paper format should file their originals with the Secretary, with copies to the Competitive Pricing Division and ITS. Commenters and carriers filing electronically on the ETFS will not be required to file a copy with the Competitive Pricing Division or ITS. For the purpose of this tariff proceeding any comments and reply comments filed on the ETFS will be considered as officially filed with the Commission. We caution parties that the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) will not accept these comments and replies. We also invite members of the general public to submit one copy of their comments, without regard to form, by letter to the Secretary, 445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554. C. Service 7. Because there is limited time available for review of the LEC tariff filings, comments, and replies, we establish the following service requirements for these filings. On the date one of these filings is submitted to the Commission, it shall be served upon a party, its attorney, or other duly constituted agent by hand delivery or by fax transmission. Parties are instructed to provide contact persons and fax numbers in their filings. LECs are directed to serve their complete tariffs, including accompanying cost studies, upon all persons that filed comments to their 1998 annual access tariff filings. Parties filing comments and replies electronically are reminded they are still required to serve copies in accordance with Sections 1.773(a)(4) and (b)(3) of the Commission's Rules, and as stated herein. We waive the service requirement set forth in section 1.47(d) of the Commission's rules for these filings. III. ORDERING CLAUSE 8. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Section 1.47(d) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.47(d), IS WAIVED for the purpose specified in paragraph 7 supra. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Jane E. Jackson Chief, Competitive Pricing Division Common Carrier Bureau