PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 08-2778 Released: December 23, 2008 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON RONAN TELEPHONE COMPANY REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR TO MEET TRIBAL LANDS BIDDING CREDIT CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENT WT Docket No. 06-231 Comments due: January 8, 2009. Reply Comments due: January 15, 2009. Pursuant to Section 1.925(c) of the Commission's rules,1 the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) hereby seeks comment on the Request of Ronan Telephone Company (Ronan) for an additional year to meet the tribal lands bidding credit (TLBC) construction requirement for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation located in Montana (Request).2 On January 29, 2004, the Commission granted Ronan the Lower 700 MHz Band C Block license for Montana RSA 1 (CMA 523), Call Sign WPZK450.3 Ronan received an $182,000 TLBC, fifty percent of its gross bid in Auction No. 44, in exchange for its agreement to construct and operate “a system capable of serving seventy-five (75) percent of the population of the qualifying tribal land [i.e., the Blackfeet Indian Reservation] for which the credit was awarded.” Ronan was required to file a certification within fifteen days of the third anniversary of the initial license grant, January 29, 2007, indicating that it had satisfied its TLBC construction requirement.4 On November 16, 2007, Ronan filed a request for an additional two years to meet the requirement.5 On January 24, 2008, the Mobility Division (Division) of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau granted a one year extension of Ronan’s TLBC construction requirement, extending the deadline for Call Sign 1 47 C.F.R. § 1.925(c). 2 File No. 0003656733 (filed Nov. 21, 2008). 3 The license area encompasses northwestern portions of Montana, including the counties of Lincoln, Sanders, Lake, Flathead, Glacier, Pondera, and Teton. The Blackfeet Indian Reservation lies within Glacier and Pondera Counties. 4 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(f)(3)(vii). 5 File No. 0003233506 (filed Nov. 16, 2007). 2 WPZK450 until January 29, 2009.6 The Division found that a one year extension would further the public interest by ensuring prompt delivery of advanced telecommunications capability to the residents located on the rural Blackfeet Reservation.7 On November 21, 2008, Ronan filed a request for a one year extension of its current TLBC construction deadline of January 29, 2009.8 Ronan argues that a further extension is warranted due to the extreme variability of population density on the reservation, the remote location of many of the reservation’s homes, technical obstacles presented by the topography of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, and the financial challenges associated with Ronan’s business plan. We seek comment on Ronan’s request. Procedural Matters Comments on the Request are due no later than January 8, 2009. Reply Comments are due no later than January 15, 2009. All responsive filings should reference the docket number of this proceeding, WT 06-231. This proceeding has been designated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.9 Parties making oral ex parte presentations in this proceeding are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain the presentation’s substance and not merely list the subjects discussed.10 More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required.11 The Request is available for public inspection and copying in the Commission's Reference Center, Room CY A257, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies of the Request also may be obtained via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT 06- 231. The Request also can be accessed electronically via the Commission's Universal Licensing System, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls. Copies of the Request are also available from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (301) 816-0169, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple 6 See Ronan Telephone Company Request for Waiver and Extension of Time of Tribal Land Bidding Credit Construction Requirement for a Lower 700 MHz Band Licensee, Order, WT Docket No. 06-231, 23 FCC Rcd 845 (WTB MD 2008). 7 The Division previously had granted Ronan a one year extension to meet the requirement. See Ronan Telephone Company Request for Waiver and Extension of Time of Tribal Land Bidding Credit Construction Requirement for a Lower 700 MHz Band Licensee, Order, WT Docket No. 06-231, 22 FCC Rcd 972 (WTB MD 2007). 8 File No. 0003656733 (filed Nov. 21, 2007). 9 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200(a), 1.1206. 10 See “Commission Emphasizes the Public’s Responsibilities in Permit-But-Disclose Proceedings,” Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 19945 (2000). 11 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) as well. 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). 3 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, NE, 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, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. · All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties shall send one copy of their comments and reply comments to Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (800) 378-3160, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Comments filed in response to this Request will be available for public inspection and copying during business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, and via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT 06-231. The comments may also be purchased from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (301) 816-0169, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Alternate formats of this Request (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 (voice), (202) 418- 7365 (TTY), or send an e-mail to access@fcc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Michael Connelly of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, at (202) 418-0620, michael.connelly@fcc.gov. Action by the Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. -FCC-