27 March 1998 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Federal Register: March 27, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 59)] [Notices] [Page 14938-14940] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27mr98-82] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION [CC Docket No. 87-313; DA 98-484] Accounting and Audits Division AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Public Notice invites interested parties to comment on a proposal of numerous modifications to the ARMIS Report 43-07 Infrastructure Report. These modifications would reflect recent changes in the telecommunications industry and capture a more accurate picture of the infrastructure deployed in the public network, particularly in rural areas. The proposed modifications are organized according to each table in the ARMIS Infrastructure Report. Our goal is to improve the Commission's existing infrastructure monitoring system so that the Commission, the states, and other interested parties will have the data necessary to make informed decisions and to track the deployment of new technologies. DATES: Comments are to be filed on or before April 24, 1998. Reply comments are due on or before May 15, 1998. ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20052. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Dale, Common Carrier Bureau, Accounting and Audits Division, (202) 418-2260, or via E-mail to ``dbyrd@fcc.gov''. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. The Common Carrier Bureau (``the Bureau'') is considering modifications to the Commission's primary tool for assessing infrastructure development in the Automated Reporting Management Information System (``ARMIS''), the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report. These modifications would reflect recent changes in the telecommunications industry and capture a more accurate picture of the infrastructure deployed in the public network, particularly in rural areas. The ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report illustrates the deployment of infrastructure in the networks of mandatory price cap local exchange carriers (``LECs'') by collecting four categories of data: (1) switching equipment; (2) transmission facilities; (3) call set-up time; and (4) plant additions and book costs. The ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report is organized into four tables, one for each category of data. 2. The proposed modifications are organized according to each table in the ARMIS Infrastructure Report. Our goal is to improve the Commission's existing infrastructure monitoring system so that the Commission, the states, and other interested parties will have the data necessary to make informed decisions and to track the deployment of new technologies. Table I--Switching Equipment Reporting 3. Asynchronous Transfer Mode Switching. Table I of ARMIS Report 43-07 provides data on the quantity, features, and number of lines served for three types of switches: (1) electromechanical switches, (2) analog stored program control switches, and (3) digital stored program control switches. Information on switches capable of transmitting the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (``ATM'') protocol is not included in this report. Because ATM is a new technology that carriers are deploying in their networks, we propose including information for ATM switches in Table I, and we seek comment on the characteristics of ATM that carriers should provide in the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report. 4. Switched Multi-megabit Data Service and Frame Relay Service. Switched multi-megabit data service (``SMDS'') and frame relay service are high-speed data telecommunications services built upon packet- switching technology. These services are widely offered to business customers for high-volume usage. We propose that carriers report data on SMDS and frame relay services in Table I of the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report and seek comment on which characteristics of switches used to provide SMDS and frame relay services carriers should report. Table II--Transmission Facilities Reporting 5. Table II of the ARMIS Report 43-07 includes information about existing transmission facilities, which are components of the telecommunications network that physically link nodes in the network. Transmission facilities are used to carry voice, video, and data traffic. Carriers use either analog or digital technology on copper wire, coaxial cable, fiber, radio, and other media. [[Page 14939]] 6. Rural Transmission Facilities. Although mandatory price cap carriers disaggregate reported data to reflect MSA and non-MSA categories in Table I of ARMIS Report 43-07, Table II does not require carriers to disaggregate data by MSA and non-MSA categories. Because the reporting carriers do not distinguish between rural and urban transmission facilities, the Commission cannot assess the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure or compare rural and urban infrastructure development. Therefore, we propose modifying Table II of ARMIS Report 43-07 to require carriers to report data disaggregated by MSA and non-MSA. We seek comment on whether this level of disaggregation will assist the Commission and other interested parties in measuring the deployment of advanced telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas, or whether we should consider a greater level of detail. 7. Coaxial Cable. In the first section of Table II, ``Sheath Kilometers,'' carriers report data for three categories of cable: (1) twisted pair copper; (2) fiber; and (3) other. Coaxial cable is currently included in the ``Other'' category. Coaxial cable is being deployed to provide telecommunications services to the public. Our existing reporting requirements do not provide the extent of coaxial cable deployed in the network. Including coaxial cable as a separate category would allow the Commission to monitor the use of that technology in competition with traditional transmission facilities. We propose modifying Table II so that carriers report coaxial cable separately as a discrete category instead of the aggregated ``Other'' category. We seek comment on this proposal. 8. Interoffice Working Facilities. In the ``Interoffice Working Facilities'' section of Table II, fiber is reported under the heading ``Digital Carrier Links.'' Fiber is frequently used in metropolitan areas to transmit analog video signals. Currently, Table II does not contain a separate row that reports how much interoffice fiber is used for analog transmission. We propose including a row that would contain this information. We solicit comment on this proposal. 9. Loop Plant-Central Office Terminations. In the ``Loop Plant- Central Office Terminations'' section of Table II carriers report fiber used in digital mode, but not fiber used in an analog mode. Adding a category for reporting fiber used in an analog mode would provide a better picture of infrastructure development and permit benchmarking. We propose that, in addition to reporting fiber interoffice working facilities used for analog transmission as mentioned above, carriers should report on fiber loops used for analog transmission. We solicit comment on this proposal. 10. Digital Loop Carrier. For a number of years, carriers have been using digital loop carrier (``DLC'') systems to reduce the cost of serving subscribers. The expanding deployment of digital end office switches has fostered the development and deployment of a new version of DLC, called Integrated Digital Loop Carrier (``IDLC''), which allows carriers to serve even more subscribers with fewer transmission paths. IDLC, which is generally deployed over fiber-optic cable, provides high-capacity transmission facilities closer to subscribers, so that these subscribers can use advanced telecommunications services. We propose requiring carriers to report data about DLC and IDLC deployment in the ``Loop Plant-Central Office Terminations'' section of Table II. Information about DLC and IDLC deployment would assist the Commission and the states in monitoring the development of new technologies used in the local loop. We seek comment on this proposal and on categories of data that would provide an accurate picture of DLC and IDLC deployment without placing an undue administrative burden on the reporting LECs. 11. Other Transmission Facility Data. In the Universal Service Order, the Commission adopted rules that provide schools and libraries discounts on all commercially available telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections. (See Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 8776, paras. 424-607 (1997)(62 FR 32862, June 17, 1997). The Commission also adopted rules that provide support to rural health care providers for toll-free Internet access and telecommunications services up to a bandwidth of 1.544 megabits per second. The Commission has noted an increasing interest in the use of the public network for transmitting data and accessing the Internet. Because there is no national standard for the performance of subscriber loops in transmitting data, our existing reporting requirements do not provide us information to assess the ability of subscribers to access the Internet and use high-speed data communications services. In order to have a more complete picture of the capabilities of the existing infrastructure and to measure the extent of access to information services, we propose that carriers should be required to report in the ``Other Transmission Facility Data'' section of Table II a count of the number of working subscriber loops capable of carrying analog data at 9.6 kilobits per second; a count of working subscriber loops capable of carrying analog data at 28.8 kilobits per second; and a count of working subscriber loops capable of carrying digital data at 64 kilobits per second. We seek comment on whether these categories will provide the necessary level of detail, or whether we should consider additional categories to illustrate data communications capabilities in the local loop. In addition, because we recognize that incumbent LECs may not currently maintain records at this level of detail, we invite interested parties to comment on the engineering methods and monitoring equipment carriers could use to accurately measure the performance capability of local loops, and the cost of obtaining this information. Table III--LEC Set-up Time Reporting 12. Table III of the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report provides information about LEC call set-up time for calls delivered by the LEC to interexchange carriers. LEC call set-up time reporting measures the time from when the customer completes dialing until the call reaches an interexchange carrier. This table may be irrelevant given the wide deployment of new technologies, such as SS7 network capabilities and ISDN, that greatly reduce call set-up time. We propose removing this table from the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure report. Table IV--Additions and Book Costs 13. In Table IV of the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report, carriers report data concerning access lines in service, access line gain, and total gross capital expenditures. Because this information is reported in other ARMIS reports, or can be extrapolated from existing reports, we propose modifying the ARMIS 43-07 Infrastructure Report to eliminate Table IV. Commission staff would still be able to ascertain this information, so eliminating this table would not inhibit the Commission's ability to monitor the development of infrastructure in the network. 14. Paperwork Reduction Act. As part of a continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, we invite the general public to take this opportunity to comment on information collections contained in this Public Notice, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-13. Public and agency comments are due at [[Page 14940]] the same time as other comments on this Public Notice. Comments should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 15. Filing Procedures. Interested parties may file comments no later than April 24, 1998. Reply comments may be filed no later than May 15, 1998. All pleadings should reference AAD File No. 98-23. The original and six copies should be submitted to the Secretary of the Commission; one copy should be submitted to Anthony Dale, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau, 2000 L Street, Suite 201, Washington, DC 20554. Comments and replies must also comply with Section 1.49 and all other applicable sections of the Commission's Rules. We also direct all interested parties to include the name of the filing party and the date of the filing on each page of their comments and replies. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be filed with International Transcription Services (ITS), the Commission's duplicating contractor, at its office at 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800. All pleadings are available for public inspection and copying in the Accounting and Audits public reference room. Action by the Chief, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC. Federal Communications Commission. Kenneth P. Moran, Chief, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau. [FR Doc. 98-7987 Filed 3-26-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712-01-P