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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 73-97]
Foreign-Trade Zone 138--Columbus, Ohio, Application for Foreign-
Trade Subzone Status, Lucent Technologies Inc. (Telecommunications
Equipment), Columbus, OH
An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Rickenbacker Port Authority, grantee of FTZ 138,
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the manufacturing and
distribution facility (telecommunications equipment) of Lucent
Technologies Inc., located in Columbus, Ohio. The application was
submitted pursuant to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19
U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It
was formally filed on September 29, 1997.
The Lucent facility (3 buildings/2 million square feet on 252
acres) are located at 6200 E. Broad Street in Columbus (Franklin
County), Ohio. The facilities (5,000 employees) are used for the
manufacture of telecommunications equipment, including wireless
infrastructure products, and switching and networking equipment. A
number of components are purchased from abroad (ranging, on average,
from 10-30% of total material value) including amplifiers, printed
circuit boards, semiconductors, integrated circuits, resistors,
connectors, cable, housings for outlets, junctions and switches, wiring
devices, and parts for telecommunications assemblies (1997 duty range:
free-8.5%, most becoming duty-free by 2000). Some 35 percent of
production is currently exported (expected to increase to 50 percent by
2000).
Zone procedures would exempt Lucent from Customs duty payments on
foreign components used in export production. On its domestic sales,
Lucent would be able to choose the lower duty rate that applies to the
finished products (4.8%-8.5%, most becoming duty-free by 2000) for the
foreign components noted above. The application indicates that the
savings from zone procedures would help improve the plant's
international competitiveness.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and
report to the Board.
Public comment on the application is invited from interested
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing
period for their receipt is December 8, 1997. Rebuttal comments in
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to December 23, 1997. A
copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be available
for public inspection at each of the following locations.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 37 North High
St., 4th Fl, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Dated: October 1, 1997.
John J. DaPonte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-26702 Filed 10-8-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M