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fcclogo PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., SW
Washington, D.C. 20554
News media information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 202/418-2555



DA 00-2329


INQUIRY CONCERNING HIGH-SPEED ACCESS
TO THE INTERNET OVER CABLE AND OTHER FACILITIES

PLEADING CYCLE EXTENDED;

AND

UNITED STATES TELECOM ASSOCIATION FILES PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING REGARDING UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATIONS OF CABLE OPERATORS

PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED

GN Docket No. 00-185

Release Date: October 12, 2000

Comment Date: Friday, December 1, 2000
Reply Comment Date: Wednesday, January 10, 2001


On September 28, 2000, the Commission adopted and released a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) seeking public comment on several matters related to high-speed access to the Internet over cable and other facilities.1 The NOI established comment and reply comment deadlines of 45 days and 75 days after publication of the NOI in the Federal Register, which occurred on October 11, 2000.2

Due to the intervening holidays, we hereby extend the comment and reply comment deadlines. Pursuant to procedures set forth in the NOI, interested parties may file comments on the NOI on or before Friday, December 1, 2000, and reply comments on or before Wednesday, January 10, 2001. Parties should refer to the procedural matters set forth in the NOI (paragraphs 57-64) for specific instruction on filing procedures.

In addition, on September 26, 2000, the United States Telecom Association (USTA) filed, pursuant to section 1.2 of the Commission's rules, a petition requesting that the Commission issue a declaratory ruling that cable operators or their affiliates that provide telecommunications services are required to contribute to universal service pursuant to section 254(d) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the Commission's regulations.

Parties wishing to comment on the issues raised by USTA in its petition for declaratory ruling should file written comments and reply comments in GN Docket No. 00-185, pursuant to procedures established for the NOI and on or before the dates set forth above. In addition to the number of copies identified in the NOI, parties commenting on the issues raised by the USTA petition must also send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl Todd, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street S.W., Room 5-B540, Washington, D.C. 20554.

As set forth in the NOI (paragraph 61), parties are reminded that this proceeding has been designated a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. Parties should consult the NOI for further information concerning the applicable ex parte procedures.

For further information, contact: Johanna Mikes or Christopher Libertelli, Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418-1580; William Johnson, Cable Services Bureau, at (202) 418-7200; Robert Cannon, Office of Plans and Policy, at (202) 418- 2030; or Douglas Sicker, Office of Engineering and Technology, at (202) 418-2478. Information regarding this proceeding is also available at the following FCC web page:
www.fcc.gov/broadband/.

For further information regarding the USTA petition, contact: Katherine Schroder, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484.


1. Inquiry Concerning High-Speed Access to the Internet Over Cable and Other Facilities, GN Docket No. 00-185, Notice of Inquiry, FCC 00-355 (rel. Sept. 28, 2000).

2. See 65 Fed. Reg. 60,441 (Oct. 11, 2000).