Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1366
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C.  20554
In the Matter of
Petitions for Waiver of Universal Service High-
Cost Filing Deadlines 
Totah Communications, Inc. 
Petition for Waiver of Section 36.621(a)(4) of the 
Commission’s Rules
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WC Docket No. 08-71
ORDER
Adopted:  August 5, 2011 Released:  August 5, 2011
By the Deputy Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau:
1. In this order, we deny a petition filed by Totah Communications, Inc. (Totah) for a waiver of 
section 36.621(a)(4) of the Commission’s rules, which caps the amount of high-cost universal service 
support recoverable for carriers’ corporate operations expenses.1 Totah provides local exchange 
telephone service in areas of rural Oklahoma and states that it has corporate operations expenses that 
exceed the Commission’s limit on the recovery of such expenses for purposes of receiving loop support.2  
In its request, Totah contends that it would not be able to maintain affordable rates in its service area 
without a waiver of the corporate operations expense cap.3  
2. We conclude that Totah has failed to demonstrate that there is good cause to waive the 
applicable section of the Commission’s rules.  Generally, the Commission’s rules may be waived if good 
cause is shown.4 The Commission may exercise its discretion to waive a rule where the particular facts 
make strict compliance inconsistent with the public interest.5 In addition, the Commission may take into 
account considerations of hardship, equity, or more effective implementation of overall policy on an 
individual basis.6 Waiver of the Commission’s rules is appropriate only if both (i) special circumstances 
warrant a deviation from the general rule, and (ii) such deviation will serve the public interest.7  
3. We find that there is no evidence to substantiate Totah’s claims.  Totah’s statements are 
merely cursory.  It has not presented any information about what its rates are today and how they may 
change without a waiver of the corporate operations expense cap, nor how the limit on corporate 
operations expenses causes a hardship on Totah and its subscribers.  It also has not supplied a detailed 
accounting of the corporate operations expenses incurred for the past three years and an explanation of 
why these costs were necessary and unavoidable.  We conclude that Totah has provided no evidence of 
  
1 Totah Communications, Inc. Petition for Waiver of Commission Rule 47 CFR § 36.621(a)(4), WC Docket No. 08-
71 (filed July 7, 2011) (Petition); see also 47 C.F.R. § 36.621(a)(4).
2 Petition at 1.
3 Id.
4 47 C.F.R. § 1.3.  
5 Northeast Cellular Telephone Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir. 1990) (Northeast Cellular).  
6 WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C. Cir. 1969); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.  
7 NetworkIP, LLC v. FCC, 548 F.3d 116, 125-128 (D.C. Cir. 2008); Northeast Cellular, 897 F.2d at 1166.
Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1366
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special circumstances to demonstrate good cause to grant a waiver of the Commission’s rules and we 
deny its petition.   
4. ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 4(i) 
and 254(d) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. §§ 4(i), 254(d), and the authority delegated by sections 
0.91, 0.291, and 54.722 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, and 54.722, the petition for 
waiver of section 36.621(a)(4) of the Commission’s rules filed by Totah Communications, Inc. IS 
DENIED.
5. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1.102(b)(1) of the Commission’s 
rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.102(b)(1), this order SHALL BE effective upon release.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Amy E. Bender
Deputy Chief
Telecommunications Access Policy Division
Wireline Competition Bureau