*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 54276.doc* 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 06- 54 WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU INITIATES PROCEEDING TO CONSIDER PETITIONS TO REDEFINE CERTAIN RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY SERVICE AREAS IN THE STATE OF IOWA CC Docket No. 96- 45 Release Date: January 12, 2006 Comment Date: January 27, 2006 Reply Comment Date: February 13, 2006 The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) provides notice that it is initiating a proceeding to consider petitions filed by RSA 7 Limited Partnership, Iowa 8 – Monona Limited Partnership, and Iowa RSA 10 General Partnership (collectively, the RSA 7 Companies) and Midwest Wireless Iowa, L. L. C. (Midwest) 1 pursuant to section 54.207 of the Commission’s rules. 2 The RSA 7 Companies and Midwest request the Commission’s agreement with decisions by the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) specifying their service areas for universal service purposes. The Bureau released Public Notices seeking comment on the RSA 7 Companies’ petition on October 14, 2005 and on Midwest’s petition on December 21, 2005. 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 petitions to redefine the service areas of rural telephone companies. 4 This notice constitutes initiation of that proceeding for these petitions. 1 See Petition of RSA 7 Limited Partnership, Iowa 8 – Monona Limited Partnership, and Iowa RSA 10 General Partnership, CC Docket 96- 45 (filed Sept. 30, 2005); Petition of Midwest Wireless Iowa, L. L. C. for Agreement with Redefinition of Service Areas of Certain Rural ILECs in the State of Iowa, CC Docket 96- 45 (filed Dec. 12, 2005). 2 47 C. F. R. § 54.207. 3 The Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition to Redefine Certain Service Areas of Rural Telephone Companies in the State of Iowa, CC Docket No. 96- 45, Public Notice, DA 05- 2711 (rel. Oct. 14, 2005); The Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition to Redefine A Rural Telephone Company Service Area in the State of Iowa, CC Docket No. 96- 45, Public Notice, DA 05- 3252 (rel. Dec. 21, 2005). 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 definitions proposed by the IUB 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). 1 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 January 27, 2006, and reply comments on or before February 13, 2006. All pleadings are to reference CC Docket No. 96- 45. Comments may be filed by using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. 5 Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www. regulations. gov. 6 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 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, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. -All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e- mail to fcc504@ fcc. gov or call the Consumer & 5 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 6 Filers should follow the instructions provided on the Federal eRulemaking Portal website for submitting comments. 2 3 Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202- 418- 0530 (voice), 202- 418- 0432( tty). 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 Amy Bender, Office of the Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau at (202) 418- 1500, TTY (202) 418- 0484. 3