*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 58641.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 06- 1508 Released: July 25, 2006 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PETITION OF GORHAM TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC., AND RURAL TELEPHONE SERVICE COMPANY, INC., TO WAIVE THE STUDY AREA BOUNDARY FREEZE, AS CODIFIED, IN PART 36, AND GORHAM TELEPHONE COMPANY’S REQUEST FOR WAIVER OF SECTION 69.3( e)( 11) OF THE COMMISSION’S RULES PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED CC Docket No. 96- 45 Comments Due: August 8, 2006 Reply Comments Due: August 15, 2006 On June 15, 2006, Gorham Telephone Company, Inc., (Gorham) and Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., (RuralTel) 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 Gorham also seeks a related waiver of section 69.3( e)( 11) of the Commission’s rules. 2 The two exchanges subject to this transaction, Luray and Paradise (approximately 272 access lines in total), are currently part of the United Telephone Company of Kansas’ (United) study area. RuralTel and United have a separate pending proceeding before the Commission requesting a study area waiver to allow RuralTel to add the Luray and Paradise exchanges and ten other exchanges to its Kansas 1 See Gorham Telephone Company, Inc., and Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., Joint Petition for Waiver of the Definition of “Study Area” of the Appendix- Glossary of Part 36 of the Commission’s Rules, CC Docket No. 96- 45 (filed June 15, 2006) (Gorham- RuralTel Petition). See also 47 C. F. R. Part 36 App. (defining “study area”). On May 31, 2006, RuralTel and Gorham filed a separate application, pursuant to section 63.04 of the Commission’s rules, requesting authority to transfer control of certain RuralTel exchanges in the state of Kansas to Gorham. See Gorham Telephone Company, Inc., and Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc., Application for Authorization Pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as Amended, for Transfer of Control. See also 47 U. S. C. § 214; 47 C. F. R. § 63.04. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) released a public notice seeking comment on the transfer of control application. See Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for the Transfer of Assets of Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc. to Gorham Telephone Company, Inc., WC Docket No. 06- 117, Public Notice, DA 06- 1381 (rel. June 30, 2006). 2 47 C. F. R. § 69.3( e)( 11). 1 4 This matter shall be treated as a “permit- but- disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 4 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required. 5 Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit- but- disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206( b) of the Commission’s rules. 6 For further information, please contact Gary Seigel, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, at (202) 418- 7400 or TTY (202) 418- 0484. - FCC - 4 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 5 See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b)( 2). 6 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). 4