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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12th  St.,  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-  3868 
 WIRELINE  COMPETITION  BUREAU  INITIATES  PROCEEDING  TO  CONSIDER  PETITION  TO  REDEFINE  CERTAIN  RURAL  TELEPHONE  COMPANY  SERVICE  AREAS 
 IN  THE  STATE  OF  MINNESOTA 
 CC  Docket  No.  96-  45 
 Release  Date:  December  8,  2004 


 The  Wireline  Competition  Bureau  (Bureau)  provides  notice  that  it  is  initiating  a  proceeding  to  consider  a  petition  filed  by  RCC  Minnesota,  Inc.  and  Wireless  Alliance,  LLC  (collectively,  “RCC”) 
 requesting  Federal  Communications  Commission  agreement  with  the  Minnesota  Public  Utilities  Commission  (Minnesota  Commission)  decision  to  redefine  the  service  areas  of  the  rural  telephone 
 companies,  Benton  Cooperative  Telephone  Company  and  Sherburne  County  Rural  Telephone  Company.  1  The  Bureau  released  a  Public  Notice  seeking  comment  on  this  petition  on  September  9,  2004.  2  The 
 comment  cycle  established  by  that  Public  Notice  closed  on  October  7,  2004.  3  Pursuant  to  section  54.207(  c)(  3)  of  the  Commission’s  rules,  the  Bureau  has  90  days  from  the  release  date  of  a  Public  Notice 
 to  initiate  a  proceeding  to  consider  a  petition  to  redefine  the  service  area  of  a  rural  telephone  company.  4  This  notice  constitutes  initiation  of  that  proceeding. 


 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. 


 1  Petition  of  RCC  Minnesota,  Inc.  and  Wireless  Alliance,  LLC  for  Redefinition  of  Rural  Telephone  Company 
 Service  Areas,  CC  Docket  No.  96-  45,  filed  September  7,  2004. 
 2  See  The  Wireline  Competition  Bureau  Seeks  Comment  on  Petition  to  Redefine  Certain  Rural  Telephone 
 Company  Service  Areas  in  the  State  of  Minnesota,  CC  Docket  No.  96-  45,  Public  Notice,  DA  04-  2911  (rel.  Sept.  9,  2004). 


 3  See  id. 
 4  47  C.  F.  R.  §  54.207(  c)(  3).  If  the  Commission  did  not  initiate  a  proceeding  within  90  days  of  the  release  of  the 
 Public  Notice,  the  definition  proposed  by  the  Minnesota  Public  Utilities  Commission  would  be  deemed  approved  by  the  Commission  and  would  take  effect  in  accordance  with  state  procedures.  47  C.  F.  R.  §  54.207(  c)(  3)(  ii).  The 


 Commission  delegated  its  authority  to  act  on  petitions  to  redefine  rural  service  areas  to  the  Wireline  Competition  Bureau.  47  C.  F.  R.  §  54.207(  e). 
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