*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 43746.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 04- 3536 Release Date: November 9, 2004 PARTIES ARE INVITED TO COMMENT ON U. S. CELLULAR PETITION FOR DESIGNATION AS AN ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CC Docket No. 96- 45 Comment Date: November 23, 2004 Reply Comment Date: December 7, 2004 Interested parties are invited to comment on a petition filed on October 14, 2004 by North Carolina RSA #4, Inc., USCOC of North Carolina RSA #7, Inc., North Carolina RSA #9, Inc., Jacksonville Cellular Telephone Company, and Wilmington Cellular Telephone Company (collectively, “U. S. Cellular”), providers of commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) seeking designation as eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) throughout their licensed service areas in the state of North Carolina pursuant to section 214( e)( 6) of the Communications Act, as amended. 1 In its petition, U. S. Cellular also requests that the Commission redefine certain service areas of rural telephone companies pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules. 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 November 23, 2004, and reply comments on or before December 7, 2004. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. 3 Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to 1 See North Carolina RSA #4, Inc., USCOC of North Carolina RSA #7, Inc., North Carolina RSA #9, Inc., Jacksonville Cellular Telephone Company, and Wilmington Cellular Telephone Company Petition for Designation as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier in the state of North Carolina, CC Docket No. 96- 45, filed October 14, 2004 (Petition); 47 U. S. C. § 214( e)( 6). We note that U. S. Cellular should provide copies of its petition to the North Carolina Utilities Commission if it has not yet done so. In addition, the Commission will send a copy of this Public Notice to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by overnight express mail to ensure that it is notified of the notice and comment period. 2 Petition at 22- 27; 47 C. F. R. § 54.207. 3 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 1 2 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 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. Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit- but- disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure. For further information, contact Thomas Buckley, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 7400, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 2