FCC Changes Online Filing for Section 214, Network Change Applications
The FCC is implementing electronic filing procedures for domestic Section 214 Communications Act transfer of control and discontinuance applications and LEC network change notifications, said an order issued Wednesday. The change follows recommendations from the commission’s Report on FCC Process Reform, the order said. Accompanied by new functionality for the Electronic Comment Filing System that allows non-docketed filings to be submitted, the order indicates the filing change is part of a broader effort to expand electronic filing options. “We expect these new filing procedures to be more convenient and efficient for applicants, provide better transparency and information to the public, and save Commission staff resources,” the order said. It was approved by all FCC members.
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Before Wednesday’s order, those three types of filings all required paper copies filed both with the commission and its bank in St. Louis, Missouri, the order said. The rule change will allow such filings to be submitted using anew module for ECFS, which allows parties to submit non-docketed filings. The new module doesn’t change the types of filings or information the commission collects; it only “allows the online submission of certain types of filings for which previously there was no electronic-filing capability available,” the order said. Comptel, ITTA and Verizon didn’t comment.
The FCC “expects to continue to expand capabilities for online filing” and is working toward the goal of “providing such capabilities for every type of filing that the public might submit,” the order said. In connection with that goal, the order modifies the FCC’s rules to “make clear” that FCC staff is authorized to provide online filing capabilities in any case where rules “may be construed as requiring paper filings,” the order said.
The Section 214 and other filings submitted using ECFS will be reviewed by staff for completeness and then assigned their own individual docket numbers where they can receive comments and other subsequent filings, the order said. For network change applications by LECs, the order eliminates the paper filing requirement and instead requires electronic filing. Like the Section 214 filings, network change filings will be assigned individual dockets after being checked by FCC staff, the order said. With the rule change, the FCC will now consider applications and network change filings “officially filed” on the date they’re time stamped in ECFS, the order said.
Though the rules don’t take effect until 30 days after the order is published in the Federal Register, the FCC is waiving its paperwork requirement and allowing electronic filing right away, the order said. ”This waiver serves the public interest by allowing the benefits of electronic filing to be realized immediately by the public, by Commission staff, and by those parties who choose to use it.” That creates a “transition period” when electronic filing is allowed but not mandatory, “which should benefit both the [Wireline] Bureau and filers by helping to identify any unforeseen difficulties,” the order said.