[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 135 (Monday, July 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42034-42036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16776]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 64
[WC Docket No. 12-375; DA 13-1445]
More Data Sought on Extra Fees Levied on Inmate Calling Services
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau)
seeks additional comment on certain fees related to inmate calling
services (ICS). The record to date indicates that ICS providers may
charge ICS account holders fees that appear ancillary to making calls,
such as account setup fees, account replenishment fees, account refund
fees, and account inactivity fees.
DATES: Comments due on or before July 17, 2013; reply comments due on
or before July 24, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket No. 12-375,
by any of the following methods:
Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting
comments.
Mail: Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal
Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East
Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Haledjian, Wireline
Competition Bureau, Pricing Policy Division, (202) 418-1520 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public
Notice, WC Docket No. 12-375; DA 13-1445, released June 26, 2013. The
complete text of this document is available for inspection and copying
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center,
Portals II, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington DC 20554. The
document may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (800) 378-3160 or (202) 863-2893,
facsimile (202) 863-2898, or via Internet at http://www.bcpiweb.com.
The Bureau requests that parties provide data and information about
such fees. Specifically, we request that parties identify any ancillary
ICS fees that ICS providers charge in connection with the provision of
interstate ICS, the level of each fee, the total amount of revenue
received from each fee, and the cost of providing the service for which
the fee recovers. We also request that parties identify any portion of
ancillary service costs that are shared or common to the provision of
other services, and explain how these costs, and recovery of them, are
apportioned among the services to which they are shared or common. To
evaluate how costs associated with providing ancillary services relate
to ICS providers' overall costs, we request that costs that are shared
or common to the provision of ancillary ICS services be identified, and
that parties explain how such costs are apportioned to and recovered by
ICS rates. Providers submitting joint and common costs are requested to
provide both per-minute rates and fixed charges associated with
interstate ICS and intrastate ICS and information on the costs of
providing ICS, including but not limited to Customer Premise Equipment
or CPE, installation, specific security enhancements (such as
monitoring and call blocking), labor, maintenance, interconnection
fees, and any other cost recovered by ICS rates. In addition to per-
minute or incremental costs, we
[[Page 42035]]
seek information on fixed costs, including recovered and unrecovered
costs, historic and projected demand, and information on how such costs
are recovered.
Procedural Matters
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis
As discussed above, the Public Notice seeks comment on certain
issues raised in the Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services NPRM
that is intended to refresh the record regarding rates for interstate
ICS calling. The Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) for
that proceeding is found at Appendix C of the Rates for Interstate
Inmate Calling Services NPRM, 78 FR 4369-01 (January 22, 2013). In
addition, we invite comment on the IRFA in light of developments since
the issuance of the original IRFA.
Paperwork Reduction Act
As discussed above, this Public Notice seeks comment on certain
issues raised in the Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services NPRM
that is intended to refresh the record regarding rates for interstate
ICS calling. The Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) for
that proceeding is found at Appendix C of the Rates for Interstate
Inmate Calling Services NPRM, 78 FR 4369-01 (January 22, 2013). In
addition, we invite comment on the IRFA in light of developments since
the issuance of the original IRFA.
Ex Parte Requirements
This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose''
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons
making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written
presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within
two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline
applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex
parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto,
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g.,
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
Filing Requirements
Pursuant to Sec. Sec. 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules,
47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before
the date indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be
filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR
24121 (1998).
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary,
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th Street SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must
be disposed of before entering the building.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or
(202) 418-0432 (tty).
The proceeding the Public Notice refers to shall be treated as a
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's
ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must
be filed consistent with rule Sec. 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed
by rule Sec. 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a
method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and
memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments
thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system
available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format
(e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this
proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte
rules.
[[Page 42036]]
Federal Communications Commission.
Kalpak Gude,
Division Chief, Pricing Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2013-16776 Filed 7-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P