Federal Communications Commission DA 14-66 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Connect America Fund ) ) ) WC Docket No. 10-90 ORDER Adopted: January 17, 2014 Released: January 17, 2014 By the Chief, Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau 1. In this Order, we grant Windstream Corporation (Windstream) an extension of 7 days,1 until January 24, 2014, to complete and submit the Wireline Competition Bureau’s (Bureau) Urban Rates Survey (Survey).2 2. We do not routinely grant extensions of time.3 In this case, the Bureau needs the data being collected in this Survey to, among other things, calculate and announce the local urban rate floor for 2014.4 On July 1, 2014, incumbent providers are required to report the number of lines and rates in effect as of June 1, 2014. Our objective is to publish the local urban rate floor well in advance of that date, and thus it is critical that we obtain accurate Survey data as quickly as possible. 3. We note that the Order adopting the Survey was released on April 3, 2013, over nine months prior to the Survey’s due date, and that the Order included an appendix with the Survey Form which details the specific information necessary to complete the Survey.5 In the summer of 2013, the Survey Form was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,6 and received OMB approval.7 Any price cap carrier should have had a reasonable expectation that at least one of its census tracts would be sampled in the Survey. Thus, we believe that those parties selected to participate in the Survey have had ample time and opportunity to familiarize themselves with the information necessary to complete the Survey by January 17, 2014. 1 On January 16, 2014, Windstream submitted a request for extension of time to complete the Urban Rates Survey. Petition of Windstream Corporation to Extend Filing Deadline, WC Docket No. 10-90 (filed Jan. 16, 2014) (Windstream Request). 2 Connect America Fund, WC Docket No. 10-90, Order, 28 FCC Rcd 4242 (Wireline Comp. Bur. and Wireless Telecom. Bur. 2013) (Urban Rates Survey Order). 3 47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a). 4 See Urban Rates Survey Order, 28 FCC Rcd at 4242, para. 1. 5 Id. at 4252-62, App. A. 6 Public Law 104-13, 44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-20. 7 Survey of Urban Rates, 78 Fed. Reg. 70238 (2013). Federal Communications Commission DA 14-66 2 4. Windstream noted its difficultly in being able to ensure the accuracy of its data by the January 17 deadline,8 which we find reasonable under the specific circumstances. Given the importance of obtaining accurate data, we believe a brief extension is warranted.9 5. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that pursuant to pursuant to sections 1, 2, 4(i), 5, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 303(r), and 403 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 151, 152, 154(i), 155, 201-205, 218-220, 254, 303(r), and 403, sections 0.91, 0.131, 0.201(d), 0.291, 0.331, 1.46 and 1.427 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.131, 0.201(d), 0.291, 0.331, 1.46, 1.427, and the delegations of authority in paragraphs 85, 99, 106, 114, and 246 of the USF/ICC Transformation Order,10 Windstream IS GRANTED an extension of 7 days, until January 24, 2014, to complete and submit the Urban Rates Survey. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Rodger Woock Chief Industry Analysis and Technology Division Wireline Competition Bureau 8 Windstream Request at 1-2. 9 Windstream or other parties with questions regarding how to complete the form should contact the Bureau immediately at UrbanRateSurvey@fcc.gov. Parties may also contact Jay Schwarz at (202) 418-0948 or Jay.Schwarz@fcc.gov, or the Industry Analysis and Technology Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, by calling (202) 418-0940, (202) 418-0484 (tty). See Wireline Competition Bureau Announces Timeline for Completion of Urban Rates Survey, WC Docket No. 10-90, Public Notice, DA 13-2400 (Wireline Comp. Bur. rel. Dec. 16, 2013). 10 Connect America Fund et al., WC Docket No. 10-90 et al., Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 26 FCC Rcd 17663 (2011), pets. for review pending, sub nom. In re: FCC 11-161, No. 11-9900 (10th Cir. argued Nov. 19, 2013).