********************* ********************* ************** NOTICE ********************* ********************* ************** This document was converted from WordPerfect or Word to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ********************* ********************* ********************* ** PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12th STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 00-121 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES SEEK REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUAL CAPS PLACED ON HIGH COST LOOP SUPPORT PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED CC Docket No. 96-45 Release Date: January 24, 2000 Comment Date: February 14, 2000 Reply Comment Date: March 6, 2000 In October and November 1999, 26 rural telephone companies (collectively, "petitioners") filed separate requests for the removal of the caps on the high-cost universal service support drawn in their study areas. In the early 1990's, large, low-cost incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) sold substantial numbers of high-cost exchanges to smaller incumbent LECs, including the petitioners. The Commission has been concerned about the potential adverse impact study area waivers associated with exchange sales would have on the high-cost support mechanism. To monitor this impact, the Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) conditioned the grant of study area waivers for the acquisition of new exchanges on imposition of a cap on the amount of high-cost support the acquiring carrier could draw for the new study area. Petitioners contend that their requests are consistent with the conclusions in the Bureau's September 9, 1999 Order, which eliminated the caps placed on the high-cost support received by certain requesting carriers. Further, many petitioners propose that, in order to avoid the administrative burden of repeatedly applying this new policy to a multitude of almost identical requests, the Commission clarify that its policy of removing individual universal service caps that have been in effect for three or more years is applicable to all similarly-situated companies. In addition, on October 7, 1999, Vermont Telephone Company, Inc. (VTel), filed a Motion for Leave to File Amendment to Expedited Request for Modification of Waiver Conditions. VTel requests leave to file an amendment to its March 12, 1999, Expedited Request for Modification of Waiver Conditions (Expedited Request). In the Expedited Request, VTel asks the Bureau to modify and correct its capped high-cost universal service support. VTel states that the relief granted in the Bureau's September 9 Order significantly affects the relief sought in its Expedited Request, and VTel seeks to amend its Expedited Request to take into account the Bureau's September 9 Order. In the amendment to the Expedited Request, VTel requests that the Bureau grant the Expedited Request for universal service support payments for 1999 and also remove its cap entirely beginning January 1, 2000. VTel contends that grant of this motion is in the public interest because VTel's amendment will assist the Bureau in considering the Expedited Request in a more efficient manner. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before February 14, 2000, and reply comments on or before March 6, 2000. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To receive filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form