News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY 202 / 418-2555PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 June 10, 1999 CC Docket No. 99-216 DA 99-1108 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU WILL HOLD FORA ON DEREGULATION/PRIVATIZATION OF EQUIPMENT REGISTRATION AND TELEPHONE NETWORK CONNECTION RULES (47 C.F.R. PART 68) Comments Due: July 2, 1999 The Commission has a strong interest in eliminating rules that may have become unnecessary due to the emergence of competition and evolution of technology, communications industries, consumer demand, and other sources of change. Accordingly, the Commission searches for opportunities to deregulate, privatize, or streamline some of its functions, programs, or rules. As part of this initiative, the Common Carrier Bureau will hold a series of fora to consider options for streamlining or eliminating equipment registration and telephone network connection requirements contained in 47 C.F.R. Part 68. The subjects to be addressed will include both substantive and procedural issues. The public input received at these fora will be used as one basis for proposed rule changes through a notice-and- comment rulemaking proceeding. The planned rulemaking proceeding will not propose to change the Commission's policy of fully competitive provision of customer premises equipment ("CPE"), nor the Commission's policy to protect the telephone network from harmful CPE or interconnection. The subject of this proceeding is to consider how the benefits of these policies may continue to be achieved in ways that allow rapid implementation of technological innovation, i.e., in ways that rely less on the Commission's Part 68 registration requirements for each new equipment type or variation thereof and more on an industry program to achieve desired or necessary levels of network protection. However, the Bureau will not consider deregulation of the Commission's hearing aid compatibility rules or rules pertaining to disability access during these fora. A major part of the Commission's review of 47 C.F.R. Part 68 is to invite comment from all parties with an interest in the telephone network, equipment, and associated wiring. These parties include, but are not limited to, state and local governments, incumbent local exchange carriers, competing local exchange carriers, cable television providers, inside wire providers, providers of broadband (or "advanced") services, manufacturers of traditional CPE, manufacturers of new computer and digital equipment CPE, independent equipment testing laboratories, industry associations, and standards organizations. In order to solicit this input, the Common Carrier Bureau will hold three public fora lasting approximately three hours each. The Public Fora have been scheduled for the following days and times: July 12, 1999, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Technical Criteria for CPE and Interconnection July 12, 1999, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Regulatory Roles of Government and Transition to Self- Regulation by the Industry July 13, 1999, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Procedural Rules July 13, 1999, 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Open discussion, if necessary The first session will consider the present condition of the telephone network and the identity of any technical criteria which may be needed to protect the network (47 C.F.R. Part 68, Subparts B, D and F, and Sections 68.1-68.3). The second session will consider paradigms for restructuring the manner in which the Commission's goals for competition and network protection are achieved. The third session will consider the Commission's equipment registration procedural rules, specifically, whether and how these rules should be streamlined, privatized, or eliminated (47 C.F.R. Part 68, Subparts C and E). Priority for participating on one or more of the panels for each forum will be given to persons and organizations filing timely comments on the issues presented herein. Comments or white papers are due on or before July 2, 1999. Commenters should consider one or more of the following questions in their analyses: Forum #1:  As 47 C.F.R. Part 68 stands now, what rules are clearly no longer necessary?  If specific criteria are necessary to protect the telephone network, what are they, and why are they necessary?  If criteria to protect the network are necessary, how shall these criteria be structured to address the requirements of new technology? Forum #2:  Can we create a new paradigm in the private sector to replace 47 C.F.R. Part 68 and continue to protect the telephone network from harmful CPE or interconnection? If so, how should such a transition be made?  What level of Governmental oversight, if any, is necessary to implement 47 C.F.R. Part 68 rules and criteria, and why?  What safeguards or procedures, if any, should be implemented to address issues that private industry may not be able to resolve?  What policies and rules should be implemented to privatize any remaining 47 C.F.R. Part 68 rules? Forum #3:  Can the registration/certification procedural rules be streamlined (whether implemented by Government or by private entities)?  What portions of the Guide to FCC Form 730 should be implemented as procedural rules?  What portions of the Guide to FCC Form 730 are no longer necessary? Persons interested in participating on the panels of any of the fora, and those desiring further information, should contact Susan Magnotti of the Network Services Division, (202) 418-0871 voice, (202) 418-0484 TTY, or at smagnott@fcc.gov. A sign language interpreter will be provided at the fora. Comments and white papers on issues pertaining to deregulation of 47 C.F.R. Part 68 rules will be accepted until close of business on July 2, 1999. Send an original of your document and four copies to the Commission Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554 and two copies of your document to Al McCloud, Network Services Division, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 6A-320. Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . If using this method, please reference CC Docket No. 99-216 in the Proceeding Block. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. 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 an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, including "get form " in the body of the message. A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. This is a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216. As a "permit but disclose" proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules applicable to non-restricted proceedings. 47 C.F.R.  1.1206. Parties making in-person ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain a summary of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b)(2). Other rules pertaining to in-person and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) as well. A transcript of each of the fora will be available 10 business days after each event on the FCC's internet site. The URL address for the FCC's internet home page is http://www.fcc.gov. Transcripts may also be obtained from the FCC's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Service ("ITS"), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, by calling ITS at (202) 857-3800, TTY (202) 293-8810, or faxing ITS at (202) 857-3805. Audio and close- captioned video tapes of the fora may be purchased from Infocus, 341 Victory Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100 (voice/relay), or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111. Copies of the transcripts in other alternative formats (computer diskette, large print, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Martha Contee at (202) 418-0260 voice, (202) 418-2555 TTY, or at mcontee@fcc.gov. News media contact: Emily Hoffnar at (202) 418-1500 (voice/relay). -FCC-