Universal Service Contribution Methodology, etc.
Federal Register: November 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 219)
Proposed Rules
Page 66821-66830
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr12no08-28
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 51, 54, 61, and 69
WC Docket Nos. 06-122, 05-337, 04-36, 03-109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 99-200, 99-68, 96-98, 96-45; FCC 08-262
Universal Service Contribution Methodology; High-Cost Universal
Service Support; IP-Enabled Services; Lifeline and Link Up; Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; Numbering Resource
Optimization; Intercarrier Compensation for ISP-Bound Traffic;
Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996; Federal-State Joint Board on Universal
Service
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
SUMMARY: In this document, the Commission seeks comment on three specific proposals that are available in the appendices of the document. We note that members of industry, Congress, and the general public have urged the Commission to seek comment on these proposals. We also seek particular comment on two questions. First, should the additional cost standard utilized under section 252(d)(2) of the Act be either the existing TELRIC standard or the incremental cost standard described in the draft order? Second, should the terminating rate for all section 251(b)(5) traffic be set as either a single, statewide rate or a single rate per operating company?
DATES: Comments are due on or before November 26, 2008 and reply comments are due on or before December 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WC Docket Nos. 06- 122, 05-337, 04-36, 03-109; CC Docket Nos. 01-92, 99-200, 99-68, 96-98, 96-45 by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: http:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in response. Include the docket number in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 205544.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov 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: Jennifer McKee, Telecommunications
Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-7400 or
TTY: 202-418-0484 (universal service), or Victoria Goldberg, Pricing
Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 202-418-1520 or TTY 202- 418-0484 (intercarrier compensation).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In this Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FNPRM), the Commission seeks comment on three specific proposals. See Universal Service Contribution Methodology; High-Cost
Universal Service Support; IP-Enabled Services; Lifeline and Link Up;
Developing a Unified Intercarrier Compensation Regime; Numbering
Resource Optimization; Intercarrier Compensation for ISP-Bound Traffic;
Implementation of the Local Competition Provisions in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996; of Federal-State Joint Board on
Universal Service, WC Docket Nos. 06-122, 05-337, 04-36, 03-109; CC
Docket Nos. 01-92, 99-200, 99-68, 96-98, 96-45, Order on Remand and
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 08-262
(rel. Nov. 5, 2008) (Order on Remand and Report and Order and Further
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking). Copies of the Order on Remand and
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and any subsequently filed documents in this matter are or will be available on the Commission's Internet site at http://www.fcc.gov and for public inspection Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the FCC Reference Information Center,
Portals II, 445 12th St., SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554.
Copies of any such documents may also be purchased from the
Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI),
Portals II, 445 12th St., SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488- 55672, e-mail
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fcc@bcpiweb.com. Accessible formats (computer diskettes, large print, audio recording and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418- 0531, TTY (202) 418-7365, or at fcc504@fcc.gov.
Background
In enacting the Act, Congress sought to introduce competition into local telephone service, which traditionally was provided through regulated monopolies. Recognizing that in introducing such competition, it was threatening the implicit subsidy system that had traditionally supported universal service, it directed the Commission to reform its universal service program to make support explicit and sustainable in the face of developing competition.
The communications landscape has undergone many fundamental changes that were scarcely anticipated when the 1996 Act was adopted. The
Internet was only briefly mentioned in the 1996 Act, but now has come into widespread use, with broadband Internet access service increasingly viewed as a necessity. Consistent with this trend, carriers are converting from circuit-switched networks to IP-based networks. These changes have benefited consumers and should be encouraged. Competition has resulted in dramatically lower prices for telephone service, and the introduction of innovative broadband products and services has fundamentally changed the way we communicate, work, and obtain our education, news, and entertainment. At the same time, however, these developments have challenged the outdated regulatory assumptions underlying our universal service and intercarrier compensation regimes, forcing us to reassess our existing approaches. We have seen unprecedented growth in the universal service fund, driven in significant part by increased support for competitive eligible telecommunications carriers. The growth of competition also has eroded the universal service contribution base as the prices for interstate and international services have dropped. Finally, we have seen numerous competitors exploit arbitrage opportunities created by a patchwork of above-cost intercarrier compensation rates.
This is a summary of the FNPRM portion of the Order on Remand and
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. We seek comment on three appendices not available in this Federal Register summary but available on the Commission's Web site at: http:// www.fcc.gov/fcc08262/FCC-08-262A1.pdf.
The first proposal we seek comment on, attached as Appendix A to the item, is the Chairman's Draft Proposal circulated to the Commission on October 15, 2008, which was placed on the Commission's agenda for a vote on November 4, 2008. This item was subsequently removed from the
Agenda on November 3, 2008. The second, attached as Appendix B to the item, is a Narrow Universal Service Reform Proposal circulated to the
Commission on October 31, 2008. The third, attached as Appendix C to the item, is a draft Alternative Proposal first circulated by the
Chairman on the evening of November 5, 2008. Appendix C incorporates changes proposed in the ex parte presentations attached as Appendix D to the item. We note that members of industry, Congress, and the general public have urged the Commission to seek comment on these proposals.
We seek particular comment on two questions. First, should the additional cost standard utilized under section 252(d)(2) of the Act be either the existing TELRIC standard or the incremental cost standard described in the draft order? Second, should the terminating rate for all section 251(b)(5) traffic be set as either a single, statewide rate or a single rate per operating company?
Comment Filing Procedures
Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47
CFR sections 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) The Commission's
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS); (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal; or (3) by filing paper copies. 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://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting comments.
For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. 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, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in response.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies 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 (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission.
The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes 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 e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202- 418-0432 (TTY).
Ex Parte Requirements
This matter shall be treated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47
CFR 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. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and
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arguments presented generally is required. See 47 CFR 1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit- but-disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the
Commission's rules. 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended
(RFA), the Commission has prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility
Analysis (IRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities by the policies and rules proposed in this FNPRM. Written public comments are requested on this IRFA.
Comments must be identified as responses to the IRFA and must be filed by the deadlines for comments on the FNPRM. The Commission will send a copy of the FNPRM, including this IRFA, to the Chief Counsel for
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA). See 5 U.S.C. 603(a). In addition, the FNPRM and IRFA (or summaries thereof) will be published in the Federal Register.
Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules
Today, the Commission adopts an FNPRM to seek comment on three specific proposals. The first proposal we seek comment on, attached as
Appendix A to the item, is the Chairman's Draft Proposal circulated to the Commission on October 15, 2008, which was placed on the
Commission's agenda for a vote on November 4, 2008. This item was subsequently removed from the Agenda on November 3, 2008. The second, attached as Appendix B to the item, is a Narrow Universal Service
Reform Proposal circulated to the Commission on October 31, 2008. The third, attached as Appendix C to the item, is a draft Alternative
Proposal first circulated by the Chairman on the evening of November 5, 2008. Appendix C incorporates changes proposed in the ex parte presentations attached as Appendix D to the item. We note that members of industry, Congress, and the general public have urged the Commission to seek comment on these proposals.
We seek particular comment on two questions. First, should the additional cost standard utilized under section 252(d)(2) of the Act be: (i) The existing TELRIC standard; or (ii) the incremental cost standard described in the draft order? Second, should the terminating rate for all section 251(b)(5) traffic be set as: (i) A single, statewide rate; or (ii) a single rate per operating company?
Legal Basis
The legal basis for any action that may be taken pursuant to the
FNPRM is contained in sections 1-4, 201-209, 214, 218-220, 224, 251, 252, 254, 303(r), 332, 403, 502, and 503 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and sections 601 and 706 of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. 151-154, 157 nt, 201-209, 214, 218-220, 224, 251, 252, 254, 303(r), 332, 403, 502, 503, and sections 1.1, 1.411- 1.429, and 1.1200-1.1216 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1, 1.411- 1.429, 1.1200-1.1216
Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the
Proposed Rules Will Apply
The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The RFA generally defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms
``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same meaning as the term ``small-business concern'' under the Small Business
Act. A small-business concern'' is one which: (1) Is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and
(3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business
Administration (SBA).
Wired Telecommunications Carriers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for Wired Telecommunications Carriers, which consists of all such companies having 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 2,432 firms in this category, total, that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 2,395 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 37 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. Thus, under this size standard, the majority of firms can be considered small.
Local Exchange Carriers (LECs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable to local exchange services. The closest applicable size standard under SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 1,311 carriers reported that they were incumbent local exchange service providers. Of these 1,311 carriers, an estimated 1,024 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 287 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of local exchange service are small entities that may be affected by the rules and policies proposed in the
FNPRM.
Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (Incumbent LECs). Neither the
Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable to incumbent local exchange services. The closest applicable size standard under SBA rules is for
Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to
Commission data, 1,311 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of local exchange services. Of these 1,307 carriers, an estimated 1,024 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 287 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of incumbent local exchange service are small businesses that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
We have included small incumbent LECs in this present RFA analysis.
As noted above, a ``small business'' under the RFA is one that, inter alia, meets the pertinent small business size standard (e.g., a telephone communications business having 1,500 or fewer employees), and
``is not dominant in its field of operation.'' The SBA's Office of
Advocacy contends that, for RFA purposes, small incumbent LECs are not dominant in their field of operation because any such dominance is not
``national'' in scope. We have therefore included small incumbent LECs in this RFA analysis, although we emphasize that this RFA action has no effect on Commission analyses and determinations in other, non-RFA contexts.
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (Competitive LECs), Competitive
Access Providers (CAPs), Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and Other
Local Service Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for these service providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 1,005 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of either competitive local exchange services or competitive access provider services. Of these 1,005 carriers, an estimated 918 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 87 have more than 1,500 employees. In addition, 16
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carriers have reported that they are Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and all 16 are estimated to have 1,500 or fewer employees. In addition, 89 carriers have reported that they are Other Local Service Providers.
Of the 89, all 89 have 1,500 or fewer employees and none has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that most providers of competitive local exchange service, competitive access providers, Shared-Tenant Service Providers, and Other Local Service
Providers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable to interexchange services. The closest applicable size standard under SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers.
Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 300 companies reported that their primary telecommunications service activity was the provision of interexchange services. Of these 300 companies, an estimated 268 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 32 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of interexchange service providers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Operator Service Providers (OSPs). Neither the Commission nor the
SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for operator service providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 28 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of operator services. Of these, an estimated 27 have 1,500 or fewer employees and one has more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of
OSPs are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Payphone Service Providers (PSPs). Neither the Commission nor the
SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for payphone services providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 526 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of payphone services. Of these, an estimated 524 have 1,500 or fewer employees and two have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of payphone service providers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Prepaid Calling Card Providers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for prepaid calling card providers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 88 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of prepaid calling cards. Of these, an estimated 85 have 1,500 or fewer employees and three have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of prepaid calling card providers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Local Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 151 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of local resale services. Of these, an estimated 149 have 1,500 or fewer employees and two have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of local resellers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Toll Resellers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for the category of Telecommunications Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 815 carriers have reported that they are engaged in the provision of toll resale services. Of these, an estimated 787 have 1,500 or fewer employees and 28 have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of toll resellers are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Other Toll Carriers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a size standard for small businesses specifically applicable to Other Toll Carriers. This category includes toll carriers that do not fall within the categories of interexchange carriers, operator service providers, prepaid calling card providers, satellite service carriers, or toll resellers. The closest applicable size standard under
SBA rules is for Wired Telecommunications Carriers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
According to Commission data, 91 companies reported that their primary telecommunications service activity was the provision of other toll carriage. Of these 91 companies, an estimated 88 have 1,500 or fewer employees and three have more than 1,500 employees. Consequently, the
Commission estimates that most Other Toll Carriers are small entities that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted pursuant to the
FNPRM. 800 and 800-Like Service Subscribers. Neither the Commission nor the SBA has developed a small business size standard specifically for 800 and 800-like service (toll free) subscribers. The appropriate size standard under SBA rules is for the category Telecommunications
Resellers. Under that size standard, such a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. The most reliable source of information regarding the number of these service subscribers appears to be data the Commission collects on the 800, 888, 877, and 866 numbers in use.
According to our data, at the beginning of December 2007, the number of 800 numbers assigned was 7,860,000; the number of 888 numbers assigned was 5,210,184; the number of 877 numbers assigned was 4,388,682; and the number of 866 numbers assigned was 7,029,116. We do not have data specifying the number of these subscribers that are not independently owned and operated or have more than 1,500 employees, and thus are unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of toll free subscribers that would qualify as small businesses under the
SBA size standard. Consequently, we estimate that there are 7,860,000 or fewer small entity 800 subscribers; 5,210,184 or fewer small entity 888 subscribers; 4,388,682 or fewer small entity 877 subscribers; and 7,029,166 or fewer small entity 866 subscribers.
Wireless Carriers and Service Providers
Below, for those services subject to auctions, we note that, as a general matter, the number of winning bidders that qualify as small businesses at the close of an auction does not necessarily represent the number of small businesses currently in service. Also, the
Commission does not generally track
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subsequent business size unless, in the context of assignments or transfers, unjust enrichment issues are implicated.
Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite). Since 2007, the SBA has recognized wireless firms within this new, broad, economic census category. Prior to that time, the SBA had developed a small business size standard for wireless firms within the now- superseded census categories of Paging and Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications. Under the present and prior categories, the SBA has deemed a wireless business to be small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. Because Census Bureau data are not yet available for the new category, we will estimate small business prevalence using the prior categories and associated data. For the first category of Paging, data for 2002 show that there were 807 firms that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 804 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and three firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more.
For the second category of Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications, data for 2002 show that there were 1,397 firms that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 1,378 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and 19 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more. Thus, using the prior categories and the available data, we estimate that the majority of wireless firms can be considered small. According to Commission data, 434 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of cellular service, Personal
Communications Service (PCS), or Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR)
Telephony services, which are placed together in the data. We have estimated that 222 of these are small, under the SBA small business size standard. Thus, under this category and size standard, approximately half of firms can be considered small.
Broadband Personal Communications Service. The broadband personal communications service (PCS) spectrum is divided into six frequency blocks designated A through F, and the Commission has held auctions for each block. The Commission defined ``small entity'' for Blocks C and F as an entity that has average gross revenues of $40 million or less in the three previous calendar years. For Block F, an additional classification for ``very small business'' was added and is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. These standards defining ``small entity'' in the context of broadband PCS auctions have been approved by the SBA. No small businesses, within the SBA-approved small business size standards bid successfully for licenses in Blocks A and B. There were 90 winning bidders that qualified as small entities in the Block C auctions. A total of 93 small and very small business bidders won approximately 40 percent of the 1,479 licenses for Blocks D, E, and F. On March 23, 1999, the Commission re-auctioned 347 C, D, E, and F Block licenses.
There were 48 small business winning bidders. On January 26, 2001, the
Commission completed the auction of 422 C and F Broadband PCS licenses in Auction No. 35. Of the 35 winning bidders in that auction, 29 qualified as ``small'' or ``very small'' businesses. Subsequent events, concerning Auction 35, including judicial and agency determinations, resulted in a total of 163 C and F Block licenses being available for grant.
Narrowband Personal Communications Services. To date, two auctions of narrowband PCS licenses have been conducted. For purposes of the two auctions that have been held, ``small businesses'' were entities with average gross revenues for the prior three calendar years of $40 million or less. Through these auctions, the Commission has awarded a total of 41 licenses, out of which 11 were obtained by small businesses. To ensure meaningful participation of small business entities in future auctions, the Commission has adopted a two-tiered small business size standard in the Narrowband PCS Second Report and
Order. A ``small business'' is an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling interests, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $40 million. A ``very small business'' is an entity that, together with affiliates and controlling interests, has average gross revenues for the three preceding years of not more than $15 million. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. In the future, the Commission will auction 459 licenses to serve Metropolitan Trading Areas (MTAs) and 408 response channel licenses. There is also one megahertz of narrowband PCS spectrum that has been held in reserve and that the Commission has not yet decided to release for licensing. The Commission cannot predict accurately the number of licenses that will be awarded to small entities in future actions. However, four of the 16 winning bidders in the two previous narrowband PCS auctions were small businesses, as that term was defined under the Commission's rules. The Commission assumes, for purposes of this analysis that a large portion of the remaining narrowband PCS licenses will be awarded to small entities. The Commission also assumes that at least some small businesses will acquire narrowband PCS licenses by means of the Commission's partitioning and disaggregation rules.
Paging (Private and Common Carrier). The SBA has developed a small business size standard for Paging, under which a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. In addition, in the Paging Third
Report and Order, we developed a small business size standard for
``small businesses'' and ``very small businesses'' for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. A ``small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $15 million for the preceding three years. Additionally, a ``very small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $3 million for the preceding three years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards.
According to Commission data, 281 carriers have reported that they are engaged in Paging or Messaging Service. Of these, an estimated 279 have 1,500 or fewer employees, and two have more than 1,500 employees.
Consequently, the Commission estimates that the majority of paging providers are small entities that may be affected by our action. An auction of Metropolitan Economic Area licenses commenced on February 24, 2000, and closed on March 2, 2000. Of the 985 licenses auctioned, 440 were sold. Fifty-seven companies claiming small business status won.
Wireless Telephony. Wireless telephony includes cellular, PCS, and specialized mobile radio (SMR) telephony carriers. As noted earlier, the SBA has developed a small business size standard for Cellular and
Other Wireless Telecommunications services. Under that SBA small business size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. According to Commission data, 434 carriers reported that they were engaged in the provision of wireless telephony. We have estimated that 222 of these are small under the SBA small business size standard. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase I Licensees. The 220 MHz service has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. Phase I licensing was conducted by lotteries in 1992 and 1993. There are approximately 1,515 such non- nationwide licensees
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and four nationwide licensees currently authorized to operate in the 220 MHz band. The Commission has not developed a small business size standard for small entities specifically applicable to such incumbent 220 MHz Phase I licensees. To estimate the number of such licensees that are small businesses, we apply the small business size standard under the SBA rules applicable to Cellular and Other Wireless
Telecommunications companies. Under this category, the SBA deems a wireless business to be small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees. The
Commission estimates that nearly all such licensees are small businesses under the SBA's small business size standard that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM. 220 MHz Radio Service--Phase II Licensees. The 220 MHz service has both Phase I and Phase II licenses. The Phase II 220 MHz service is a new service, and is subject to spectrum auctions. In the 220 MHz Third
Report and Order, we adopted a small business size standard for
``small'' and ``very small'' businesses for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. This small business size standard indicates that a ``small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding
$15 million for the preceding three years. A ``very small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that do not exceed $3 million for the preceding three years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. Auctions of Phase II licenses commenced on
September 15, 1998, and closed on October 22, 1998. In the first auction, 908 licenses were auctioned in three different-sized geographic areas: Three nationwide licenses, 30 Regional Economic Area
Group (EAG) Licenses, and 875 Economic Area (EA) Licenses. Of the 908 licenses auctioned, 693 were sold. Thirty-nine small businesses won licenses in the first 220 MHz auction. The second auction included 225 licenses: 216 EA licenses and 9 EAG licenses. Fourteen companies claiming small business status won 158 licenses. 800 MHz and 900 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Licenses. The
Commission awards ``small entity'' and ``very small entity'' bidding credits in auctions for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands to firms that had revenues of no more than $15 million in each of the three previous calendar years, or that had revenues of no more than $3 million in each of the previous calendar years, respectively. These bidding credits apply to SMR providers in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands that either hold geographic area licenses or have obtained extended implementation authorizations.
The Commission does not know how many firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz geographic area SMR service pursuant to extended implementation authorizations, nor how many of these providers have annual revenues of no more than $15 million. One firm has over $15 million in revenues.
The Commission assumes, for purposes here, that all of the remaining existing extended implementation authorizations are held by small entities, as that term is defined by the SBA. The Commission has held auctions for geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz SMR bands. There were 60 winning bidders that qualified as small or very small entities in the 900 MHz SMR auctions. Of the 1,020 licenses won in the 900 MHz auction, bidders qualifying as small or very small entities won 263 licenses. In the 800 MHz auction, 38 of the 524 licenses won were won by small and very small entities. 700 MHz Guard Band Licensees. In the 700 MHz Guard Band Order, we adopted a small business size standard for ``small businesses'' and
``very small businesses'' for purposes of determining their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments. A ``small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues not exceeding $40 million for the preceding three years. Additionally, a
``very small business'' is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross revenues that are not more than $15 million for the preceding three years. An auction of 52
Major Economic Area (MEA) licenses commenced on September 6, 2000, and closed on September 21, 2000. Of the 104 licenses auctioned, 96 licenses were sold to nine bidders. Five of these bidders were small businesses that won a total of 26 licenses. A second auction of 700 MHz
Guard Band licenses commenced on February 13, 2001 and closed on
February 21, 2001. All eight of the licenses auctioned were sold to three bidders. One of these bidders was a small business that won a total of two licenses.
Rural Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a size standard for small businesses specific to the Rural Radiotelephone
Service. A significant subset of the Rural Radiotelephone Service is the Basic Exchange Telephone Radio System (BETRS). The Commission uses the SBA's small business size standard applicable to Cellular and Other
Wireless Telecommunications, i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons. There are approximately 1,000 licensees in the Rural
Radiotelephone Service, and the Commission estimates that there are 1,000 or fewer small entity licensees in the Rural Radiotelephone
Service that may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein.
Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. The Commission has not adopted a small business size standard specific to the Air-Ground Radiotelephone
Service. We will use SBA's small business size standard applicable to
Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications, i.e., an entity employing no more than 1,500 persons. There are approximately 100 licensees in the Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, and we estimate that almost all of them qualify as small under the SBA small business size standard and may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the
FNPRM.
Aviation and Marine Radio Services. Small businesses in the aviation and marine radio services use a very high frequency (VHF) marine or aircraft radio and, as appropriate, an emergency position- indicating radio beacon (and/or radar) or an emergency locator transmitter. The Commission has not developed a small business size standard specifically applicable to these small businesses. For purposes of this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard for the category Cellular and Other Telecommunications, which is 1,500 or fewer employees. Most applicants for recreational licenses are individuals. Approximately 581,000 ship station licensees and 131,000 aircraft station licensees operate domestically and are not subject to the radio carriage requirements of any statute or treaty.
For purposes of our evaluations in this analysis, we estimate that there are up to approximately 712,000 licensees that are small businesses (or individuals) under the SBA standard. In addition, between December 3, 1998 and December 14, 1998, the Commission held an auction of 42 VHF Public Coast licenses in the 157.1875-157.4500 MHz
(ship transmit) and 161.775-162.0125 MHz (coast transmit) bands. For purposes of the auction, the Commission defined a ``small'' business as an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $15 million dollars. In addition, a ``very small'' business is one that, together with
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controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues for the preceding three years not to exceed $3 million dollars. There are approximately 10,672 licensees in the Marine Coast Service, and the
Commission estimates that almost all of them qualify as ``small'' businesses under the above special small business size standards and may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Fixed Microwave Services. Fixed microwave services include common carrier, private operational-fixed, and broadcast auxiliary radio services. At present, there are approximately 22,015 common carrier fixed licensees and 61,670 private operational-fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services. The
Commission has not created a size standard for a small business specifically with respect to fixed microwave services. For purposes of this analysis, the Commission uses the SBA small business size standard for the category Cellular and Other Telecommunications, which is 1,500 or fewer employees. The Commission does not have data specifying the number of these licensees that have more than 1,500 employees, and thus is unable at this time to estimate with greater precision the number of fixed microwave service licensees that would qualify as small business concerns under the SBA's small business size standard. Consequently, the Commission estimates that there are up to 22,015 common carrier fixed licensees and up to 61,670 private operational-fixed licensees and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services that may be small and may be affected by the rules and policies adopted herein. We note, however, that the common carrier microwave fixed licensee category includes some large entities.
Offshore Radiotelephone Service. This service operates on several
UHF television broadcast channels that are not used for television broadcasting in the coastal areas of states bordering the Gulf of
Mexico. There are approximately 55 licensees in this service. We are unable to estimate at this time the number of licensees that would qualify as small under the SBA's small business size standard for
Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications services. Under that SBA small business size standard, a business is small if it has 1,500 or fewer employees.
Wireless Communications Services. This service can be used for fixed, mobile, radiolocation, and digital audio broadcasting satellite uses. The Commission established small business size standards for the wireless communications services (WCS) auction. A ``small business'' is an entity with average gross revenues of $40 million for each of the three preceding years, and a ``very small business'' is an entity with average gross revenues of $15 million for each of the three preceding years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. The
Commission auctioned geographic area licenses in the WCS service. In the auction, there were seven winning bidders that that qualified as
``very small business'' entities, and one that qualified as a ``small business'' entity. We conclude that the number of geographic area WCS licenses affected by this analysis includes these eight entities. 39 GHz Service. The Commission created a special small business size standard for 39 GHz licenses--an entity that has average gross revenues of $40 million or less in the three previous calendar years.
An additional size standard for ``very small business'' is: An entity that, together with affiliates, has average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three calendar years. The SBA has approved these small business size standards. The auction of the 2,173 39 GHz licenses began on April 12, 2000, and closed on May 8, 2000. The 18 bidders who claimed small business status won 849 licenses.
Consequently, the Commission estimates that 18 or fewer 39 GHz licensees are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Wireless Cable Systems. Wireless cable systems use 2 GHz band frequencies of the Broadband Radio Service (BRS), formerly Multipoint
Distribution Service (MDS), and the Educational Broadband Service
(EBS), formerly Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS), to transmit video programming and provide broadband services to residential subscribers. These services were originally designed for the delivery of multichannel video programming, similar to that of traditional cable systems, but over the past several years licensees have focused their operations instead on providing two-way high-speed
Internet access services. We estimate that the number of wireless cable subscribers is approximately 100,000, as of March 2005. Local
Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) is a fixed broadband point-to- multipoint microwave service that provides for two-way video telecommunications. As described below, the SBA small business size standard for the broad census category of Cable and Other Program
Distribution, which consists of such entities generating $13.5 million or less in annual receipts, appears applicable to MDS, ITFS and LMDS.
The Commission has defined small MDS (now BRS) and LMDS entities in the context of Commission license auctions. In the 1996 MDS auction, the Commission defined a small business as an entity that had annual average gross revenues of less than $40 million in the previous three calendar years. This definition of a small entity in the context of MDS auctions has been approved by the SBA. In the MDS auction, 67 bidders won 493 licenses. Of the 67 auction winners, 61 claimed small business status. At this time, the Commission estimates that of the 61 small business MDS auction winners, 48 remain small business licensees. In addition to the 48 small businesses that hold BTA authorizations, there are approximately 392 incumbent MDS licensees that have gross revenues that are not more than $40 million and are thus considered small entities. MDS licensees and wireless cable operators that did not receive their licenses as a result of the MDS auction fall under the
SBA small business size standard for Cable and Other Program
Distribution. Information available to us indicates that there are approximately 850 of these licensees and operators that do not generate revenue in excess of $13.5 million annually. Therefore, we estimate that there are approximately 850 small entity MDS (or BRS) providers, as defined by the SBA and the Commission's auction rules that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Educational institutions are included in this analysis as small entities; however, the Commission has not created a specific small business size standard for ITFS (now EBS). We estimate that there are currently 2,032 ITFS (or EBS) licensees, and all but 100 of the licenses are held by educational institutions. Thus, we estimate that at least 1,932 ITFS licensees are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
In the 1998 and 1999 LMDS auctions, the Commission defined a small business as an entity that has annual average gross revenues of less than $40 million in the previous three calendar years. Moreover, the
Commission added an additional classification for a ``very small business,'' which was defined as an entity that had annual average gross revenues of less than $15 million in the previous three calendar years. These definitions of ``small business'' and ``very small business'' in the context of the LMDS auctions have been approved
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by the SBA. In the first LMDS auction, 104 bidders won 864 licenses. Of the 104 auction winners, 93 claimed status as small or very small businesses. In the LMDS re-auction, 40 bidders won 161 licenses. Based on this information, we believe that the number of small LMDS licenses will include the 93 winning bidders in the first auction and the 40 winning bidders in the re-auction, for a total of 133 small entity LMDS providers as defined by the SBA and the Commission's auction rules. 218-219 MHz Service. The first auction of 218-219 MHz spectrum resulted in 170 entities winning licenses for 594 Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA) licenses. Of the 594 licenses, 557 were won by entities qualifying as a small business. For that auction, the small business size standard was an entity that, together with its affiliates, has no more than a $6 million net worth and, after federal income taxes (excluding any carry over losses), has no more than $2 million in annual profits each year for the previous two years. In the 218-219 MHz Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, we established a small business size standard for a ``small business'' as an entity that, together with its affiliates and persons or entities that hold interests in such an entity and their affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not to exceed $15 million for the preceding three years. A ``very small business'' is defined as an entity that, together with its affiliates and persons or entities that hold interests in such an entity and its affiliates, has average annual gross revenues not to exceed $3 million for the preceding three years. These size standards will be used in future auctions of 218-219 MHz spectrum. 24 GHz--Incumbent Licensees. This analysis may affect incumbent licensees who were relocated to the 24 GHz band from the 18 GHz band, and applicants who wish to provide services in the 24 GHz band. The applicable SBA small business size standard is that of ``Cellular and
Other Wireless Telecommunications'' companies. This category provides that such a company is small if it employs no more than 1,500 persons.
We believe that there are only two licensees in the 24 GHz band that were relocated from the 18 GHz band, Teligent and TRW, Inc. It is our understanding that Teligent and its related companies have less than 1,500 employees, though this may change in the future. TRW is not a small entity. Thus, only one incumbent licensee in the 24 GHz band is a small business entity. 24 GHz--Future Licensees. With respect to new applicants in the 24
GHz band, the size standard for ``small business'' is an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average annual gross revenues for the three preceding years not in excess of $15 million. ``Very small business'' in the 24 GHz band is an entity that, together with controlling interests and affiliates, has average gross revenues not exceeding $3 million for the preceding three years. The
SBA has approved these small business size standards. These size standards will apply to a future 24 GHz license auction, if held.
Satellite Service Providers
Satellite Telecommunications. Since 2007, the SBA has recognized satellite firms within this revised category, with a small business size standard of $15 million. The most current Census Bureau data, however, are from the (last) economic census of 2002, and we will use those figures to gauge the prevalence of small businesses in this category. Those size standards are for the two census categories of
``Satellite Telecommunications'' and ``Other Telecommunications.''
Under both prior categories, such a business was considered small if it had, as now, $15 million or less in average annual receipts.
The first category of Satellite Telecommunications ``comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing point-to-point telecommunications services to other establishments in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries by forwarding and receiving communications signals via a system of satellites or reselling satellite telecommunications.'' For this category, Census
Bureau data for 2002 show that there were a total of 371 firms that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 307 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and 26 firms had receipts of $10 million to $24,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of
Satellite Telecommunications firms are small entities that might be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
The second category of Other Telecommunications ``comprises establishments primarily engaged in: (1) Providing specialized telecommunications applications, such as satellite tracking, communications telemetry, and radar station operations; or (2) providing satellite terminal stations and associated facilities operationally connected with one or more terrestrial communications systems and capable of transmitting telecommunications to or receiving telecommunications from satellite systems.'' For this category, Census
Bureau data for 2002 show that there were a total of 332 firms that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 303 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million and 15 firms had annual receipts of $10 million to $24,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of
Other Telecommunications firms are small entities that might be affected by our action.
Cable and OVS Operators
In 2007, the SBA recognized new census categories for small cable entities. However, there are no census data yet in existence that may be used to calculate the number of small entities that fit these definitions. Therefore, we will use prior definitions of these types of entities in order to estimate numbers of potentially-affected small business entities.
Cable and Other Program Distribution. The Census Bureau defines this category as ``third-party distribution systems for broadcast programming * * * [that] deliver visual, aural, or textual programming received from cable networks, local television stations, or radio networks to consumers via cable or direct-to-home satellite systems on a subscription or fee basis * * * [and] do not generally originate programming material.'' The SBA has developed a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution, of firms having
$13.5 million or less in annual receipts. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were a total of 1,191 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 1,087 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and 43 firms had receipts of $10 million or more but less than $25 million. Thus, under this size standard, the majority of firms can be considered small and may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Cable Companies and Systems. The Commission has developed its own small business size standards, for the purpose of cable rate regulation. Under the Commission's rules, a ``small cable company'' is one serving 400,000 or fewer subscribers, nationwide. Industry data indicate that, of 1,076 cable operators nationwide, all but eleven are small under this size standard. In addition, under the Commission's rules, a ``small system'' is a cable system serving 15,000 or fewer subscribers. Industry data indicate that, of 7,208 systems nationwide, 6,139 systems have under 10,000 subscribers, and an additional 379 systems have 10,000-
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19,999 subscribers. Thus, under this second size standard, most cable systems are small and may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the
FNPRM.
Cable System Operators. The Act also contains a size standard for small cable system operators, which is ``a cable operator that, directly or through an affiliate, serves in the aggregate fewer than 1 percent of all subscribers in the United States and is not affiliated with any entity or entities whose gross annual revenues in the aggregate exceed $250,000,000.'' The Commission has determined that an operator serving fewer than 677,000 subscribers shall be deemed a small operator, if its annual revenues, when combined with the total annual revenues of all its affiliates, do not exceed $250 million in the aggregate. Industry data indicate that, of 1,076 cable operators nationwide, all but ten are small under this size standard. We note that the Commission neither requests nor collects information on whether cable system operators are affiliated with entities whose gross annual revenues exceed $250 million, and therefore we are unable to estimate more accurately the number of cable system operators that would qualify as small under this size standard.
Open Video Services. Open Video Service (OVS) systems provide subscription services. As noted above, the SBA has created a small business size standard for Cable and Other Program Distribution. This standard provides that a small entity is one with $13.5 million or less in annual receipts. The Commission has certified approximately 45 OVS operators to serve 75 areas, and some of these are currently providing service. Affiliates of Residential Communications Network, Inc. (RCN) received approval to operate OVS systems in New York City, Boston,
Washington, DC, and other areas. RCN has sufficient revenues to assure that they do not qualify as a small business entity. Little financial information is available for the other entities that are authorized to provide OVS and are not yet operational. Given that some entities authorized to provide OVS service have not yet begun to generate revenues, the Commission concludes that up to 44 OVS operators (those remaining) might qualify as small businesses that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Internet Service Providers, Web Portals and Other Information Services
In 2007, the SBA recognized two new small business, economic census categories: (1) Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search
Portals and; (2) All Other Information Services. However, there is no census data yet in existence that may be used to calculate the number of small entities that fit these definitions. Therefore, we will use prior definitions of these types of entities in order to estimate numbers of potentially affected small business entities.
Internet Service Providers. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for Internet Service Providers (ISPs). ISPs ``provide clients access to the Internet and generally provide related services such as Web hosting, Web page designing, and hardware or software consulting related to Internet connectivity.'' Under the SBA size standard, such a business is small if it has average annual receipts of
$23 million or less. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 2,529 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of these, 2,437 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an additional 47 firms had receipts of between $10 million and
$24,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Web Search Portals. Our action may pertain to interconnected VoIP services, which could be provided by entities that provide other services such as e-mail, online gaming, Web browsing, video conferencing, instant messaging, and other, similar IP-enabled services. The Commission has not adopted a size standard for entities that create or provide these types of services or applications.
However, the Census Bureau has identified firms that ``operate Web sites that use a search engine to generate and maintain extensive databases of Internet addresses and content in an easily searchable format.'' The SBA has developed a small business size standard for this category of $6.5 million or less in average annual receipts. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 342 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of these, 303 had annual receipts of under $5 million, and an additional 15 firms had receipts of between $5 million and $9,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services. Entities in this category ``primarily * * * provid[e] infrastructure for hosting or data processing services.'' The SBA has developed a small business size standard for this category; that size standard is $23 million or less in average annual receipts. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 6,877 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of these, 6,418 had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an additional 251 firms had receipts of between $10 million and
$24,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by rules adopted pursuant to the FNPRM.
All Other Information Services. The Census Bureau defines this industry as including ``establishments primarily engaged in providing other information services (except new syndicates and libraries and archives).'' Our action pertains to interconnected VoIP services, which could be provided by entities that provide other services such as e- mail, online gaming, Web browsing, video conferencing, instant messaging, and other, similar IP-enabled services. The SBA has developed a small business size standard for this category; that size standard is $6.5 million or less in average annual receipts. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 155 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of these, 138 had annual receipts of under $5 million, and an additional four firms had receipts of between
$5 million and $9,999,999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by our action.
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting. The Census Bureau defines this industry as ``establishments engaged in publishing and/or broadcasting content on the Internet exclusively * * *. [that * * *] do not provide traditional (non-Internet) versions of the content that they publish or broadcast.'' The SBA has developed a small business size standard for this Census category; that size standard is 500 or fewer employees. According to Census Bureau data for 2002, there were 1,362 firms in this category that operated for the entire year. Of these, 1,351 had employment of 499 or fewer employees, and 11 firms had employment of between 500 and 999. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of these firms are small entities that may be affected by our action.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance
Requirements for Small Entities
In the FNPRM, the Commission seeks comment on three specific proposals. The first proposal we seek comment on, attached as Appendix
A to the item, is the Chairman's Draft Proposal circulated to the
Commission on October 15, 2008, which was placed on the Commission's agenda for a vote on November 4, 2008.
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This item was subsequently removed from the Agenda on November 3, 2008.
The second, attached as Appendix B to the item, is a Narrow Universal
Service Reform Proposal circulated to the Commission on October 31, 2008. The third, attached as Appendix C to the item, is a draft
Alternative Proposal first circulated by the Chairman on the evening of
November 5, 2008. Appendix C incorporates changes proposed in the ex parte presentations attached as Appendix D to the item. We note that members of industry, Congress, and the general public have urged the
Commission to seek comment on these proposals.
We seek particular comment on two questions. First, should the additional cost standard utilized under section 252(d)(2) of the Act be either the existing TELRIC standard or the incremental cost standard described in the draft order? Second, should the terminating rate for all section 251(b)(5) traffic be set as either a single, statewide rate or a single rate per operating company?
Steps Taken To Minimize the Significant Economic Impact on Small
Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered
The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant, specifically small business, alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four alternatives (among others): ``(1) The establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into account the resources available to small entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance and reporting requirements under the rules for such small entities; (3) the use of performance rather than design standards; and (4) an exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for such small entities.''
The FNPRM seeks comment from all interested parties. Small entities are encouraged to bring to the Commission's attention any specific concerns they may have with the proposals outlined in the FNPRM.
Throughout these proceedings the Commission has received proposals to treat small entities differently. We believe that consideration of commenters' transition proposals for implementing intercarrier compensation reform, as well as alternatives for a carriers' recovery of intercarrier revenues reduced as a result of any reforms that might be adopted could be consistent with our goals of a unified and simplified intercarrier compensation regime that will reduce arbitrage opportunities and promote innovation and competition and our statutory requirement to secure the viability of universal service.
Federal Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the
Proposed Rules
None.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This document may contain proposed new or modified information collection requirements. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information collection requirements contained in this document, as required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, we seek specific comment on how we might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.''
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
FR Doc. E8-26849 Filed 11-7-08; 4:15 pm
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
