NEWSReport No. DC 96-85 ACTION IN DOCKET CASE September 12, 1996 COMMISSION REDUCES REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMON CARRIERS (CC DOCKET NO. 96-193) The Commission today released an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that furthers the pro-competitive, de-regulatory goals of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act) by reducing the reporting requirements for common carriers. In the Order released today, the Commission modifies its rules to permit LECs to file ARMIS (Automated Reporting Management Information System) reports and cost allocation manual (CAM) revisions on an annual basis. Prior to enactment of the 1996 Act, certain of these reports were required to be filed either on a quarterly or semi-annual basis. The Order implements provisions of the 1996 Act that direct the Commission to permit carriers to file ARMIS reports and CAM revisions annually. In addition, as required by the 1996 Act, the Order adjusts certain revenue thresholds in the accounting and reporting requirements to reflect inflation since October 19, 1992. Consistent with the 1996 Act, the Commission also adopts interim rules that make available an indexed revenue threshold that defines large carriers for purposes of ensuring their compliance with ARMIS and CAM filing requirements. In the NPRM released today, the Commission initiates a rulemaking to consider additional modifications to its rules, including whether the 60-day advance notice requirement to change the carrier's CAM to reflect new ventures should be modified or eliminated as well as which inflation measure should be incorporated into the Commission's rules pertaining to carrier classification for accounting and reporting requirements. The Commission states that because the adopted rule changes are deregulatory in nature and relieve restrictions, they will be effective upon publication in the Federal Register. The Commission finds that, to the extent that these changes merely implement the requirements of the 1996 Act and involve no discretionary action by the Commission, there is good cause to conclude that the notice and comment procedures are unnecessary and, with regard to the interim rules adopted, would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The Order also denies the request of Anchorage Telephone Utility (ATU) to withdraw its CAM. (over) - 2 - Action by the Commission September 4, 1996, by Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 96-370). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong. -FCC- News media contact: Mindy J. Ginsburg at (202) 418-1500. Common Carrier Bureau contact: Tim Peterson at (202) 418-1500.