*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 61209.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- 2372 Released Date: November 27, 2006 THE WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PETITION OF SRT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND NORTH DAKOTA TELEPHONE COMPANY TO WAIVE THE STUDY AREA BOUNDARY FREEZE, AS CODIFIED IN PART 36 OF THE COMMISSION’S RULES AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION OF SRT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. FOR WAIVER OF SECTIONS 69.605( c) AND 69.3( e)( 11) OF THE COMMISSION RULES PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED CC Docket No. 96- 45 Comment Date: December 11, 2006 Reply Comment Date: December 18, 2006 On October 4, 2006, SRT Communications, Inc. (SRT) and North Dakota Telephone Company (NDTC) 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 NDTC to remove from its existing North Dakota study area the Velva exchange and would permit SRT to add that exchange to its existing North Dakota study area. On October 13, 2006, SRT supplemented the Petition to request a waiver of the definition of an “average schedule company” in section 69.605( c) of the Commission’s rules to allow SRT to retain its status as an average schedule company for interstate access settlement purposes. 2 In addition, SRT requests a waiver of section 69.3( e)( 11) of the Commission’s 1 See SRT Communications, Inc., and North Dakota Telephone Company, Petition of Local Exchange Carriers for Waiver of “Study Area” Boundaries as defined in Appendix- Glossary of Part 36 in connection with a Proposed Acquisition by SRT Communications, Inc. of all assets of North Dakota Telephone Company for the Velva Exchange in North Dakota (filed Oct. 4, 2006) (Petition); 47 C. F. R. Part 36 App. (defining “study area”). On October 2, 2006, SRT and NDTC filed a separate application, pursuant to section 63.04 of the Commission’s rules, requesting authority to transfer control of the Velva exchange in the state of North Dakota from NDTC to SRT. See 47 U. S. C. § 214; 47 C. F. R. § 63.04. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) released a public notice approving the transfer of control application. See Wireline Competition Bureau Grants Consent for the Transfer of Control of the North Dakota Telephone Company to SRT Communications, Inc., WC Docket No. 06- 185, Public Notice, DA 06- 2318 (rel. November 16, 2006). 2 See SRT Communications, Inc., and North Dakota Telephone Company, Supplement to Petition for Waiver to Change Study Area Boundaries (filed Oct. 13, 2006); 47 C. F. R. §§ 69.605( c) and 69.3( e)( 11). 1 4 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