*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 5629.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 00- 2879 December 21, 2000 COMMENTS INVITED ON QWEST SECTION 214 APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE OPERATION OF FACILTIES WITHIN TWELVE UTAH EXCHANGES NSD File No. W- P- D- 473 Section 214 Application Applicant: Qwest Corporation On November 7, 2000, Qwest Corporation (“ Qwest”) filed an application requesting authority under section 214( a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U. S. C. § 214( a), and section 63.71 of the Federal Communicat ions Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. § 63. 71, t o discont inue operat ion of it s t elecommunicat ions facilit ies wit hin twelve Ut ah exchanges, wit hout impairment or int errupt ion of service to the public. Qwest Corporation has agreed to transfer twelve Utah exchanges to All West Communications, Inc., Carbon/ Emery Telcom, Inc., Cent ral Ut ah Telephone, Inc., Hanksville Telcom, Inc., Mant i Telephone Company, Skyline Telecom and UBET Telecom, Inc. (the “Acquiring Companies”). The twelve exchanges collectively serve approximately 35,600 access lines in Utah. The application includes a description of each of the Acquiring Companies, the exchanges being acquired, and the number of access lines in each exchange. The application states Qwest requests the Federal Communications Commission certify that Qwest may transfer to the Acquiring Companies the responsibilit y for providing int erst at e services in t hese exchanges, so that parties may consummate their sales contract. Qwest is considered a dominant carrier with respect to the services being transferred. The applicat ion st at es t hat t he planned t ransfer of the exchanges and the associat ed asset s will have no known immediate or substantial effect on the service provided to customers within this exchange. It st at es that no exist ing service will be discont inued, reduced or impaired as a result of the t ransfer and t hat it is ant icipat ed service will improve over time, because the Acquiring Companies have substantial expert ise in providing telecommunicat ions services in rural communit ies, and this experience will ultimately inure to the benefit of telecommunications subscribers within the twelve exchanges. The application also states that, on December 22, 1999, Qwest and the Acquiring Companies filed a joint application with the Utah Public Service Commission seeking approval for the transfer of these twelve exchanges. On September 6, 2000, the Utah Public Service Commission issued an Order News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 approving the propose sale of the subject exchanges by Qwest to the Acquiring Companies. In compliance with Section 63.71 of the Commission’s rules, notification letters were sent to all affected customers in Utah either on November 3 or November 6, 2000 and, concurrent with the filing of this application, notice was also provided to the Utah Public Service Commission, the Governor of Utah and the U. S. Secretary of Defense. In accordance with 47 C. F. R. § 63.71( c), the application will be deemed to be aut omat ically grant ed on the 60th day after the release date of this notice without any Commission notification to the applicant, unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. The FCC will normally authorize proposed discontinuances of service unless it is shown that customers or other end users would be unable to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another carrier, or that the public convenience and necessity is otherwise adversely affected. Comment s object ing to this applicat ion must be filed wit h the Commission by January 17, 2001. Such comments should refer to application file number W- P- D- 473. Comment s should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inabilit y t o acquire reasonable subst it ut e service. Comment s should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW- A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two copies of the comments should also be sent to the Network Services Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 6- A207, Washington, DC 20554. The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418- 0270. The application may also be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20 TH Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202- 857- 3800, facsimile 202- 857- 3805, TTY 202- 293- 8810. For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418- 2325 (voice), cweather@ fcc. gov, of the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. For information on Section 214s please visit our website at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ ccb/ nsd/ documents/ 214. html. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 2