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*****************************************************                            Before the
                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20554



In the Matter of                   )
                              )
Federal State Joint Board               )
on Universal Service                    )         CC Docket No. 96-45
                              )
Forward-Looking Mechanism          )
for High Cost Support for               )         CC Docket No. 97-160
Non-Rural LECs                )


                             ORDER

Adopted:  October 9, 1998              Released:  October 9, 1998

By the Chief, Accounting Policy Division

                          I.  BACKGROUND

     1.   In conjunction with the Commission's proceeding to select a forward-looking
economic cost mechanism for determining the level of federal high cost universal service support,
the Common Carrier Bureau issued an Order on August 7, 1998 requesting certain revenue
information from non-rural local exchange carriers and holding companies.  The August 7 Order
provided that responses would be due on October 6, 1998.  The Accounting Policy Division
released an Order extending the deadline for submitting information as requested by several
petitioners.  Having received additional requests for extension of time, we extend the deadline for
submitting the information as set forth below.

     2.   Sprint Local Telephone Companies (Sprint) has requested an extension in
responding to the data request because, upon reviewing the data after it was compiled, Sprint had
concerns about the accuracy of certain data items.  Rather than submitting incomplete or
inaccurate data, Sprint requests an extension of time to complete its response to October 20, 1998.
     3.   North State Telephone Company (North State) has filed a supplement to its 
request for an extension of time to complete its response to the data request, which states that
North State anticipates that it could fulfill certain portions of the data request prior to the
previously requested December 7, 1998 extension.  In our October 6, 1998 Order, we allowed
North State to submit Charts 2 and 3 by November 6, 1998, and Charts 4 and 5 by December 7,
1998.  In its supplement, North State additionally requests that it be permitted to provide Chart 1
(except for business classification) by October 12, 1998.
                                 
                         II.  DISCUSSION

     4.   As a matter of Commission policy, requests for extension of time are not routinely
granted.  The Commission has committed to implementing a forward-looking cost methodology
for non-rural carriers by July 1, 1999.  The information sought in the data request is relevant to
completion of that methodology.  We recognize, however, that requiring all of the data requested
to be submitted by the October 6, 1998 deadline may place an administrative burden upon some
respondents.  We find that extending the time to respond to the Order, as requested by individual
petitioners, will significantly reduce the burden on respondents and help ensure that responses are
accurate and complete.  We therefore grant the request of Sprint to extend submission of its
response to October 20, 1998.  We also grant the request of North State to extend submission of
its response and allow North State to submit Chart 1 by October 13, 1998. 

     5.   We emphasize that the limited extensions and waivers granted herein apply only to
the petitioners that requested the respective extensions or waivers.  With the exception of the
limited extensions granted herein, all respondents remain bound by the October 6, 1998 deadline.  

                     III.  ORDERING CLAUSES  

     6.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in section 4(i)
of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. section 154(i), and sections 0.91,
0.291, 1.3, and 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, and 1.46,
that Sprint's request for extension of time is GRANTED to the extent described herein.

     7.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to the authority contained in section 4(i) of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. section 154(i), and sections 0.91, 0.291,
1.3, and 1.46 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. sections 0.91, 0.291, 1.3, and 1.46, that
North State Telephone Company's Request for Extension of time is GRANTED to the extent
described herein..

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              Lisa  S. Gelb
                              Chief, Accounting Policy Division