In the Matter of High-Cost Universal Service Support Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service
WC Docket No. 05-337
CC Docket No. 96-45
Revised Filing Date:
Reply Comments Due: June 2, 2008
By the Acting Associate Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. On January 29, 2008, the Commission released three Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (collectively, Notices), seeking comment regarding the high-cost universal service support program. On March 4, 2008, summaries of the Notices appeared in the Federal Register, setting a comment cycle of April 3, 2008 for comments and May 5, 2008 for reply comments. The Wireline Competition Bureau later extended the pleading cycle, setting a comment cycle of May 5, 2008, for comments and May 19, 2008, for reply comments. On May 1, 2008, six associations jointly filed a motion for a three week extension of the reply comment deadline. The associations state that grant of an extension will allow parties to develop well-considered and thorough responses to the substantial record amassed in this proceeding, and will not cause prejudice to any party.
2. We note that it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted. The associations indicate that an extension will provide commenters with sufficient time to fully review, assess, and respond comprehensively to the Notices. We agree with the associations, and find that an extension of the reply comment deadline in this proceeding is appropriate under these circumstances. We find, however, that two additional weeks is sufficient time for commenters to complete their reply comments. The deadline for filing reply comments in response to the Notices is extended from May 19, 2008 to June 2, 2008.
3. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 4(j), and 5(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 154(j), 155(c), and sections 0.91, 0.291, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 1.46, the pleading cycle established in this matter shall be modified as follows:
Reply Comments Due: June 2, 2008