Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 August 22, 2008 Chairman Edward S. Finley, Jr. North Carolina Utilities Commission 4325 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4325 Re: Petition by the Federal Communications Commission, Pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(d), for North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) Agreement in Redefining the Service Areas of Alltel Carolina - North Inc., Central Telephone Co.-North Carolina, Randolph Telephone Membership Corp., Skyline Telephone Membership Corp. Sprint Mid-Atlantic, Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corp. Dear Chairman Finley: Attached is an order released by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) on May 1, 2008. In the order, the Commission grants in part and denies in part the petition of United States Cellular Corp. (U.S. Cellular) to be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC) in the state of North Carolina pursuant to section 214(e)(6) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act). 1 In accordance with section 214(e)(5) of the Act, the order proposes to redefine the service areas for six of the rural telephone companies for which U.S. Cellular has been granted ETC status: Alltel Carolina-North Inc., Central Telephone Co.-North Carolina, Randolph Telephone Membership Corp., Skyline Telephone Membership Corp., Sprint Mid-Atlantic, and Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corp. 2 The wire centers affected by the reclassification are listed in Exhibits 3 and 29 of the order. The Commission's decision to redefine the service areas of these telephone companies is subject to the review and final agreement of the NCUC. 3 The Wireline Competition Bureau therefore requests that the NCUC examine this redefinition based on its unique knowledge of the rural areas in question. Pursuant to section 54.207(d)(1) of the Commission’s rules, the attached order includes the definition proposed by the Commission and contains the Commission’s reasons for adopting the proposed redefinitions. 4 1 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(6). 2 See 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(5); High Cost Universal Service Support; Federal-State Board on Universal Service, Alltel Communications, et al. Petitions for Designation as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers, WC Docket No. 05-337, CC Docket No. 96-45, Order, FCC 08-122, App. D, Ex. 28 (rel. May 1, 2008). 3 See 47 U.S.C. § 214(e)(5). 4 See 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(d)(1). The Commission requests that notice of the NCUC’s approval or other action be sent to: 1) Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Office of the Secretary, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554; and 2) Jennifer McKee, Acting Division Chief, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20554. Thank you for your attention to this matter and please do not hesitate to contact me at (202) 418-1500 if you have any questions. Sincerely, Dana R. Shaffer Bureau Chief Wireline Competition Bureau Attachment CC: Mr. Hugh Gerringer Public Staff - Communications Division 4326 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4326