*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 53523.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 05- 3145 December 5, 2005 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU GRANTS REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE COMMENTS ON PETITION OF ACS OF ANCHORAGE, INC. PURSUANT TO SECTION 10 OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, FOR FORBEARANCE FROM SECTIONS 251( C)( 3) AND 252( D)( 1) IN THE ANCHORAGE LEC STUDY AREA WC DOCKET NO. 05- 281 On December 1, 2005, General Communication, Inc. (GCI) filed a request for an extension of time to file comments on the petition of ACS of Anchorage, Inc. for forbearance from sections 251( c)( 3) and 252( d)( 1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. 1 The current deadline for filing comments is December 13, 2005. 2 Although requests for extensions of time are not routinely granted, 3 we do occasionally grant limited extensions of time when we find that the public interest would be served by doing so. In this case, we believe that granting GCI’s request is in the public interest. GCI asks for additional time so that it may incorporate into its comments a thorough analysis of the Commission’s order granting Qwest forbearance relief in the Omaha metropolitan statistical area, released on December 2, 2005. 4 We believe that other parties will benefit equally from an extension of the comment deadline, and that extending the comment deadline will enable the Commission to obtain a more complete and well- developed record in this proceeding. Parties therefore have until January 9, 2006 to file comments on ACS’s petition in this docket, and until February 23, 2006 to file reply comments. 1 Petition for Forbearance of ACS of Anchorage, Inc. Pursuant to Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for Forbearance from Sections 251( c)( 3) and 252( d)( 1) in the Anchorage LEC Study Area, WC Docket No. 05- 281 (filed Sept. 30, 2005). On October 6, 2005, ACS filed an Amended Petition of ACS of Anchorage, Inc. Pursuant to Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, for Forbearance from Sections 251( c)( 3) and 252( d)( 1) in the Anchorage LEC Study Area, WC Docket No. 05- 281. This amended Petition incorporates errata to the September 30 Petition, which were filed on September 30 and October 4, 2005. 2 See Pleading Cycle Established for Comments on ACS’s Petition for Forbearance in the Anchorage, Alaska Local Exchange Carrier Study Area, WC Docket No. 05- 281, DA 05- 2709, Public Notice (rel. Oct. 14, 2005). 3 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.46( a). 4 See Petition of Qwest Corporation for Forbearance Pursuant to 47 U. S. C. § 160( c) in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area, WC Docket No. 04- 223, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 05- 170 (rel. Dec. 2, 2005). 1 2 For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Carol Simpson, Wireline Competition Bureau, (202) 418- 2391. 2