*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 42472* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 04- 3041 Released Date: September 23, 2004 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PETITION OF SIOUX VALLEY TELEPHONE COMPANY AND HILLS TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. TO WAIVE THE STUDY AREA BOUNDARY FREEZE, AS CODIFIED IN PART 36 OF THE COMMISSION’S RULES AND SECTION 69.605( C) OF THE COMMISSION RULES PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED CC Docket No. 96- 45 Comment Date: October 7, 2004 Reply Comment Date: October 14, 2004 On April 5, 2004, Sioux Valley Telephone Company (Sioux Valley) and Hills Telephone Company, Inc (Hills) (collectively, the Applicants) filed a joint petition for waiver of the study area boundary freeze, as codified in the Appendix- Glossary of Part 36 of the Commission’s rules. 1 The requested waiver would permit Sioux Valley to remove the Valley Springs, East Valley Springs, and North Larchwood exchanges (approximately 557 access lines) from its existing South Dakota study area. The waiver would allow Hills to create a new South Dakota study area. On September 21, 2004, Sioux Valley and Hills supplemented their petition to request a waiver of the definition of an “average schedule company” in section 69.605( c) of the Commission’s rules, if such waiver is necessary for Hills to operate the acquired exchanges as an average schedule company for interstate access settlement purposes. 2 Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1. 415, 1. 419, interested parties may file comments on or before October 6, 2004 and reply comments on or before October 13, 2004. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number 1 47 C. F. R. § 36, App. (defining “study area”). 2 47 C. F. R. § 69.605( c). 1 appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U. S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Natek, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. -The filing hours at this location are 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m. -All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. -Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. -Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. -U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. -All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to each of the following: (1) The Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554; website: www. bcpiweb. com; phone: 1- 800- 378- 3160. (2) Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12 th Street, S. W. Room 5- A633, Washington, D. C. 20554; e- mail: gary. seigel@ fcc. gov. (3) Sheryl Todd, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12 th Street, S. W. Room 5- B540, Washington, D. C. 20554; e- mail: sheryl. todd@ fcc. gov. Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC, 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 1- 800- 378- 3160. For further information, please contact Gary Seigel at (202) 418- 0879. - FCC - 2