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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 Roosevelt County Rural Telephone ) Cooperative, Inc.; ) West Texas Rural Telephone ) Cooperative, Inc.; ) Ruthven Telephone Exchange Company; ) Indianhead Telephone Company; ) Tatum Telephone Company; ) Haxtun Telephone Company; ) Albion Telephone Company, Inc.; ) Miller Telephone Company; ) Schaller Telephone Company; ) ENMR Telephone Cooperative, Inc.; ) Roome Telecommunications, Inc.; ) Northwestern Indiana Telephone ) NSD File Nos. Company, Inc.; ) ) 97-74; 97-63; 97-78; 97-75; 97-66 Breda Telephone Company; ) 97-67; 97-65; 97-68; 97-73; 97-70; Coon Valley Cooperative ) 97-72; 97-76; 97-64; 97-71; 97-69 Telephone Association, Inc.; ) Defiance Telephone Company; ) Hawkeye Telephone Company; ) Jordan-Soldier Telephone Company; ) Lehigh Valley Co-op Telephone ) Telephone Association; ) Lone Rock Cooperative Telephone Company;) Manilla Telephone Company; ) Norway Rural Telephone Company; ) Prairie Telephone Company; ) Radcliffe Telephone Company; ) Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation;) Hillsboro Telephone Company; ) ) Petitions for Waiver of the ) Four-Digit Carrier Identification Code (CIC)) Implementation Schedule ) ORDER Adopted: December 23, 1997 Released: December 24, 1997 By the Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION 1. Carrier identification codes (CICs) are numeric codes that enable local exchange carriers (LECs) providing interstate interexchange access services to identify the interstate interexchange carrier (IXC) that the originating caller wishes to use to transmit its interstate call. LECs use the CICs to route traffic to the proper IXC and to bill for the interstate access service provided. CICs facilitate competition by enabling callers to use the services of telecommunications service providers either by presubscription or by dialing a carrier access code, or CAC, which incorporates that carrier's unique Feature Group D CIC. Originally, CICs were unique three-digit codes (XXX) and CACs were five-digit codes incorporating the CIC (10XXX). 2. On April 11, 1997, in the CICs Second Report and Order, the Commission approved an industry plan to expand Feature Group D CICs from three to four digits on the ground that it was a reasonable method of meeting future demand for CICs as the supply of three-digit codes was exhausted. The industry agreed that as the expansion from three to four-digit CICs occurred, and as carriers replaced their five-digit CACs with seven-digit CACs, a transition, or permissive dialing period, was needed. The industry, however, was unable to agree on the length of the transition. In its 1994 CICs NPRM, the Commission proposed a six-year period. In the CICs Second Report and Order, however, because of the rapidly depleting pool of available three-digit CICs, the Commission decided to end the transition on January 1, 1998. The Commission also denied requests to "grandfather" (i.e., to permit carriers to continue to use) previously assigned three-digit CICs that are in use at the end of the transition. The Commission's decisions were intended to advance the pro- competitive objectives of the Communications Act of 1934 (the Communications Act or the Act), as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act). 3. On October 22, 1997, in the CICs Order on Reconsideration, the Commission modified the decision in the CICs Second Report and Order regarding the length of the transition during which three and four-digit Feature Group D CICs co-exist, and created a "two-step" end to the transition to four-digit CICs. Under the CICs Order on Reconsideration, all LECs that provide equal access must have completed switch changes to recognize four-digit CICs by January 1, 1998, the end of the first phase. The second phase, which ends on June 30, 1998, is intended to allow interexchange carriers time to prepare their networks for, and educate their customers about, the replacement of three-digit CICs by four-digit CICs. After June 30, 1998, only four-digit CICs and seven-digit CACs will be recognized. The Commission also affirmed its decision in the CICs Second Report and Order not to grandfather the use of three-digit CICs and five-digit CACs that are in use during the transition. 4. In response to several small LECs' petitions for waiver of the CICs Second Report and Order's January 1, 1998 conversion deadline, on December 3, 1997, and December 15, 1997, the Network Services Division (Division) of the Commission's Common Carrier Bureau (Bureau) granted extensions of the conversion deadline. We dismissed two petitions as moot. We have received additional petitions for waiver, which we address here. 5. In this Order, for the reasons discussed below, we conclude that the petitions of Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, Indianhead, Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, each Iowa LEC (Breda, Coon Valley, Defiance, Hawkeye, Jordan-Soldier, Lehigh Valley, Lone Rock, Manilla, Norway, Prairie, and Radcliffe), Vitelco, and Hillsboro should be granted, by extending for them the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability for the time periods requested. In addition, as discussed below, we impose certain requirements on Hillsboro, for whom we grant an extension beyond June 30, 1998, the end of the permissive dialing period. II. PETITIONS A. Requests for Extension Ending Before June 30, 1998 6. Roosevelt, a small, rural LEC located in Portales, New Mexico, which became an equal access provider in February 1994, requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until February 28, 1998, to complete installation and configuration of its new Northern Telecom (Nortel) DMS-10 switch. Roosevelt asserts that, in February 1997, after contacting Stromburg-Carlson about possible upgrades to its existing switch, and discovering the extreme nature of the changes, Roosevelt contacted Nortel about replacing its Stromberg-Carlson switch, and learned that switch replacement would cost $500,000 less than the Stromburg-Carlson upgrade. Roosevelt asserts that, although Nortel's original estimated date for completion of installation and conversion of the switch was November 15, 1997, because of unanticipated engineering complexities and the recent backlog of work for Nortel, Roosevelt will be unable to implement the four-digit CIC capability until February 28, 1998. 7. West Texas, an incumbent LEC with its headquarters in Hareford, Texas, serving approximately 1,900 access lines, requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until March 31, 1998. Having originally anticipated becoming four-digit CIC compliant by the year 2000, under the originally proposed six-year transition, West Texas began the conversion process in June 1997, after release of the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997. West Texas asserts, however, that, after exploring all reasonable alternatives, it has determined that additional time is needed until March 31, 1998, to complete the upgrade process in its nine non-conforming offices in a rational and efficient manner. West Texas argues that the grant of the extension will benefit its customers. West Texas contends that, without an extension of the January 1, 1998 deadline, West Texas would be forced to disrupt its ongoing upgrade project and incur additional and unnecessary expense. West Texas asserts that the only IXCs that would be affected if the Commission grants West Texas an extension would be those that have been issued new four-digit CICs. 8. Ruthven, serving one exchange with approximately 835 access lines, also requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until March 31, 1998. Ruthven asserts that, having originally planned to replace its Stromberg-Carlson switch whose line capacity is exhausting during the first quarter of 1998, it took steps to expedite delivery of the new Mitel switch and accelerate the implementation schedule when the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997. Ruthven asserts that the switch was delivered during the first week of November 1997, and is currently being installed. Ruthven states that, due to Mitel's closing during the holidays, completion of installation may be delayed. Ruthven asserts that, assuming the absence of problems with installation or testing, it anticipates that the switch will be operational by February 28, 1998. Ruthven requests an extension until March 31, 1998, to allow time for resolution of any problems arising during the switch replacement. 9. Indianhead, a small LEC serving rural Wisconsin, and providing equal access to toll carriers since 1992, requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until May 31, 1998. Indianhead's network operates with a Nortel host switch in one of its three exchanges and satellite switching offices in the other two exchanges. Indianhead asserts that its Nortel switching system it uses Nortel Release 404.41 software, which does not support four-digit CICs. Indianhead asserts that it has ordered the hardware (12 megabyte memory cards) and software (Nortel Release 405.20) necessary to enable its network to recognize four-digit CICs. Indianhead expects to receive the equipment during the first quarter of 1998 and to install and test the system to make it operational no later than May 31, 1998. Indianhead argues that its waiver request meets the factors espoused by the Division in the First CICs Waiver Order because Indianhead has already ordered the equipment, which, while they are available from Nortel, have not yet been received. In addition, Indianhead asserts that its 2,053 access lines "constitute a minute fraction of the United States access lines served by IXCs." Moreover, while Indian head asserts that grant of its waiver will not adversely impact the ability of its customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing because, under the waiver, Indianhead's switches would be converted one month prior to the end of the permissive dialing period, it claims that denial of the waiver request would force Indianhead to incur unnecessary additional costs. Finally, Indianhead argues that grant of its waiver would be consistent with the Commission's commitment to reducing regulatory burdens on small telephone companies. B. Requests for Extension Until June 30, 1998 10. Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, ENMR, Schaller, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs (all except one) request extensions of the switch conversion deadline until June 30, 1998. Tatum serves one exchange with approximately 815 access lines and Haxtun serves three exchanges with a total of 1,874 access lines. Both Tatum and Haxtun assert that, upon learning of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline set in the CICs Second Report and Order, they contacted Stromberg-Carlson to discuss network configuration options. They further assert that Stromberg-Carlson delayed in responding to them and then offered unacceptable price quotes. Both Tatum and Haxtun then contacted Nortel, and based on Nortel's recommendations, Tatum chose a switch replacement and Haxtun a host/remote network configuration. Both Tatum and Haxtun assert that the switching equipment they ordered from Nortel equipment resellers is in the process of being shipped. Both assert that they will begin installing the equipment immediately upon delivery, and they expect the equipment to be operational on or before June 30, 1998. 11. Albion requests a waiver for five of the eleven exchanges it serves, representing approximately 1,017 access lines of its approximately 4,268 access lines. Albion asserts that because it had just completed upgrading its switch network when the Commission released the CICs NPRM, proposing a six-year transition to four-digit CICs, Albion concluded that it was not economically feasible to upgrade its switches to accommodate the future four-digit CIC requirement. Albion asserts that all of its switches are stand alone switches, and each must be upgraded individually to implement four-digit CICs. On October 18, 1996, Albion acquired additional exchanges in Idaho from US WEST. At the end of that year, Albion devised a construction plan to upgrade all of its switches to four-digit CIC capability. The plan included changing out certain switches to be remotes off other host switches. Albion asserts that, in addition to providing four-digit CIC capability, this plan will minimize the cost of future upgrades. Albion also asserts that, although its plan was being implemented at the time the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order, compliance with the January 1, 1998, deadline set therein is not technically feasible because of the significant amount of work required to upgrade each switch. At this time, six of Albion's eleven switches are now four-digit CIC compliant. Albion asserts that the remaining five upgraded remote switches were shipped in November 1997, and that installation and conversion will be completed between April and June 1998. 12. Miller serves one exchange with approximately 1038 access lines. Miller asserts that, upon learning of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline set in the CICs Second Report and Order, it initiated the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan approval process for a switch upgrade to a software generic of 409.11 (from its current generic 403.21), as well as for additional lines and custom calling features. Miller asserts that it was notified that the loan had been approved on July 11, 1997, and the Missouri Public Service Commission (MOPSC) issued its approval on November 13, 1997. Because of the delay in receiving MOPSC's letter of approval, Miller did not order the switch upgrade software until November 25, 1997. Miller asserts that installation will begin immediately upon delivery of the software, and that it anticipates completing implementation on or before June 30, 1998. 13. Schaller is a small LEC providing equal access through Iowa Network Services (INS). Schaller asserts that, in the first half of 1998, it plans to replace its four Nortel switches (with 302.40 generic software) with four new Nortel switches (using 400 generic software) that are four-digit CIC compliant. Schaller asserts that it would be uneconomical for it to spend between $200,000 and $300,000 to upgrade its existing switches to become four-digit CIC compliant, when it plans to replace these switches in the next seven months, with switches that, in addition to supporting four-digit CICs, also will support many other services including signalling system 7 (SS7), caller ID, and integrated services digital network (ISDN). Schaller asserts that it expects to obtain RUS financing (which it is in the process of obtaining and about which it is negotiating with Nortel), order the switches, and have them operational before June 30, 1998. Schaller argues that grant of its waiver would be consistent with the factors the Division considered in the First CICs Waiver Order. In this vein, Schaller asserts that it is diligently working to replace its switches, that it serves only a small number of access lines, that grant of the waiver would not affect the end of the permissive dialing period, and that Schaller would be unduly burdened absent a waiver because of the money it would need to spend on upgrading switches soon to be replaced. Finally, Schaller argues that grant of its waiver would be consistent with the Commission's commitment to reducing regulatory burdens on small telephone companies. 14. ENMR is a small, rural LEC located in Clovis, New Mexico, which has been providing equal access since 1994. ENMR asserts that it is in the final stage of upgrading its network to four-digit CIC capability, under a network modernization plan it began in February 1996, working with Hicks & Ragland Engineering and Nortel. Under the plan, ENMR's Nortel DMS-10 switches will be upgraded to a Nortel DMS-100 host and remote switch network configuration. ENMR asserts that the new DMS-100 switch will be able to manage future Commission network requirements and to offer advance features to subscribers in its territory. ENMR argues that, due to technical and economic obstacles, it cannot complete its conversion process by the January 1, 1998 deadline. Having originally anticipated being four-digit CIC compliant by the year 2000, under the six-year transition proposed in the CICs NPRM, ENMR accelerated its network upgrade schedule when the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997, which established a January 1, 1998 end to the transition. ENMR asserts that under the accelerated schedule, it has converted two of its 25 exchanges. It plans to convert eight more exchanges by the end of December 1997, for a total of 10 remotes capable of handling four-digit CICs. ENMR asserts, however, that the equipment and installations necessary to meet the January 1, 1998 deadline for all of its switches are not available. ENMR asserts that, after consulting with Nortel and Hicks & Ragland, it anticipates that the remaining 15 exchanges cannot all be converted until the end of June 1998. ENMR asserts that grant of the waiver will allow ENMR to continue its efficient network modernization plan. 15. Roome serves one exchange with approximately 798 access lines. To support four-digit CICs, Roome must replace its Alcatel E10-FIVE switch (using generic software version 6.1) with a new switch. Roome asserts that, because of circumstances beyond its control, Roome was required to change switching vendors for the replacement originally scheduled for the beginning of the fourth quarter of 1997. Roome asserts that it has begun the process of installing a Siemens EWSD switch and is expeditiously working with the new vendor to complete installation. Roome anticipates installation to be completed by mid-April 1998. Roome asserts that it has received assurances that from the manufacturer that testing will be completed in time for Roome to be four-digit CIC compliant by the end of the permissive dialing period. Roome claims that to comply with the four- digit CIC requirement, Roome has been forced to expend considerable funds ($944,618) although it could have provided adequate service to its rural customers for as long as the next three to five years without making these expenditures. Nonetheless, Roome is making plans to comply with the Commission's requirement as soon as possible. Roome argues that grant of its waiver request, which would affect only dial-around calling because the extension would only last until the end of the permissive dialing period, is in the public interest. 16. Northwestern is a small LEC providing equal access in Indiana. Northwestern states that it upgrades switch hardware and reprograms software on an as-needed basis. Northwestern argues that it is technically and economically infeasible for it to comply with the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline, and needs additional time to receive and install new switches and software. Northwestern asserts that, upon release of the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997, it made efforts to assess the steps necessary to meet the January 1, 1998 deadline. Northwestern determined that, to become four-digit CIC compliant, it would need to upgrade (if possible) the existing operating systems software, and purchase additional equipment, for its Alcatel E-10-5 switches. Northwestern asserts, however, that Alcatel informed it that it is no longer offering support for Northwestern's switching equipment and software. Northwestern decided, therefore, to replace its Alcatel switches with new Siemens-Stromberg EWSD switches, and has made the necessary arrangements to purchase. Northwestern asserts, however, that installation may take up to six months. Northwestern asserts that it considered purchasing new switches from other manufacturers, but that none could guarantee installation by January 1, 1998. Northwestern asserts that grant of their waiver requests is consistent with Commission precedent recognizing the technical and economic burdens imposed on small and rural LECs in implementing software upgrades and granting waivers when those burdens are demonstrated. 17. The Eleven Iowa LECs. The eleven Iowa LECs, on whose behalf GVNW filed its petition, participate in centralized equal access service provided by INS. All except one of the eleven Iowa LECs (Lehigh Valley) request extensions until June 30, 1998. Leigh Valley requests an extension until March 1, 1998. GVNW asserts that the INS centralized equal access function provides presubscription and equal access capabilities through a centralized switching system rather than through provisioning in each end office switch. The eleven Iowa LECs invested in digital switching technology before switch manufacturers made four-digit CICs available. Because they have been providing new services through the INS switch, they have not been required to invest in upgrades to their individual end offices. GVNW asserts that, through the INS, the eleven Iowa LECs were able to provide equal access earlier than other rural LECs, and although they cannot provide dial-around capabilities to carriers with four-digit CICs, they are able to provide them with equal access presubscription. 18. Based on communications with INS, the eleven Iowa LECs believed that they could become four-digit CIC compliant through INS, without upgrading or replacing their own switches. In early November, 1997, however, the eleven Iowa LECs learned that if they did not have SS7 capability, they may not be able to upgrade to four-digit CICs. GVNW asserts that, upon learning of these problems, the eleven Iowa LECs have taken immediate action to become four-digit CIC compliant as quickly as technically feasible in order to meet the June 30, 1998 end of the permissive dialing period. GVNW asserts that, in the interim, only the relatively small number of dial-around calls using four-digit CICs will be affected. 19. For each Iowa LEC, GVNW provides specific details regarding serving areas, access lines, switch types, and software. All the eleven Iowa LECs serve a small number of access lines. 20. Coon Valley, Hawkeye, and Radcliffe have decided to pursue software generic upgrades to become four-digit CIC compliant. All these LECs request extension of the switch conversion deadline until June 30, 1998. Coon Valley intends to expedite its plans to upgrade its software (from 14.1 generic to 21 generic, costing approximately $235,000), originally scheduled for the third quarter of 1998. Hawkeye and Radcliffe both learned recently that their current generic software (402.53) cannot accommodate four-digit CICs. Hawkeye asserts that it is expeditiously working with the manufacturer to estimate the costs and timing of a software upgrade. Radcliffe had originally planned a software generic upgrade (from 402.53 generic to 410 generic) for the last quarter of 1998. When it learned recently that the 402.53 generic cannot accommodate four-digit CICs, Radcliffe entered into negotiations with Nortel for an interim software generic upgrade to 406 generic, which will not impact its planned upgrade to 410 generic. 21. Defiance, Lehigh Valley, and Manilla, are in the process of replacing their switches to become four-digit CIC compliant. Lehigh Valley requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until March 1, 1998. Defiance and Manilla request extensions until June 30, 1998. Leigh asserts that, while it had anticipated having new switches installed and operational by December 1997, as a result of various missed scheduled dates in the installation, the switches will not be complete and operational until February 1, 1998. Lehigh Valley requests an extension until March 1, 1998, to allow for any further delays in the implementation schedule. Defiance and Manilla assert that they are currently negotiating with Nortel for switch replacements (costing approximately $250,000) and that they are seeking delivery and installation dates that will meet the Commission's required effective date for the end of the permissive dialing period. Lone Rock, while it has not decided to replace its switch, has not precluded that option. Lone Rock asserts that Nortel informed it of a recent plan to develop an auxiliary upgrade to 402.53 generic, the software generic with which Lone Rock's switches currently are equipped, to provide a means of passing four-digit CICs and seven-digit CACs. Lone Rock asserts, however, that, because time frames have not been established for the auxiliary upgrade (with a cost estimate of $5,000-$10,000), it has also established contingency plans. The three alternatives Lone Rock is considering are: (1) an upgrade to a higher software generic; (2) switch sharing with a neighboring LEC; and (3) switch replacement. Lone Rock intends to acquire data regarding the costs and timing for delivery and installation of each of these options in the event the auxiliary upgrade is infeasible, and will pursue all avenues open to it to ensure compliance by the end of the permissive dialing period. 22. Norway is reviewing a proposed network configuration in which Norway would replace its current switch with a remote switch whose host would reside with another telephone company (costing a total of approximately $340,000). In addition, this configuration would require burying fiber from Norway's exchange to the host switch facility "meet point"(with the fiber construction costing approximately $200,000). Norway asserts that, if this configuration is not feasible, to ensure compliance with the four-digit CIC requirement, it is prepared to lease a Nortel DMS 10 switch from another company (costing $2,500 per month with an installation cost of $40,000). 23. Breda, Jordan-Soldier, and Prairie are pursuing interconnection agreements with other carriers that would act as host switches for various features and functions, to include the four-digit CIC capability. Breda and Jordan Silver each assert that it has initiated an interconnection agreement, Breda with an affiliated competitive LEC (CLEC), and Jordan-Soldier with a neighboring LEC. Prairie asserts that, prior to release of the CICs Second Report and Order, it had plans to reconfigure its network in 1998. After having initiated contacts in late April 1997, Prairie is currently negotiating an interconnection agreement with neighboring LECs, and will expedite the process as necessary. Breda, Jordan-Soldier and Prairie all anticipate interconnection by the end of the permissive dialing period on June 30, 1998. C. Request for Extension Until July 1, 1998 24. Vitelco, a rural and insular carrier operating in the United States Virgin Islands, with approximately 60,000 switched access lines spread over multiple islands, requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until July 1, 1998. Vitelco operates three switches, two Alcatel-1210s (purchased in 1981) and one Nortel DMS-100 (purchased in 1988). Vitelco asserts that while it had originally planned on being four- digit CIC compliant by the year 2000, under the six-year transition proposed by the Commission in the CICs NPRM, the company was not prepared for an upgrade requirement of January 1, 1998. Vitelco asserts that conversion by January 1, 1998, is not technically feasible. First, Vitelco asserts that its primary equipment vendor, Alcatel, has determined that it cannot complete upgrades by that date. Vitelco asserts that, under existing licensing agreements for its main tandem switch, an Alcatel 1210, only Alcatel can perform work to convert the switch. Despite Vitelco's repeated inquiries, Alcatel is still evaluating Vitelco's request, including preparation of a quotation for the terms of conversion and a reasonable target date for completion. Vitelco asserts that it has obtained the necessary information to convert the DMS-100 switch which only requires a software upgrade. Vitelco cautions, however, that conversion of the DMS-100 switch alone is insufficient because it would have no effect without conversion of the Alcatel-1210 main tandem switch through which all interexchange traffic to and from the islands must pass and which contains, therefore, all the routing and billing codes necessary for all Vitelco traffic. Vitelco asserts that conversion of the Alcatel-1210 is complicated because it requires both hardware and software changes, with replacement of the switch's 256 kilobyte memory cards necessary (possibly with the current memory cards individually removed), and may result in the need to offload traffic to other switches because the switch currently is operating at capacity. Vitelco also asserts that acquisition of new parts will be difficult because the Alcatel-1210 has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Vitelco asserts that it has considered changing out the switch, but that the process of replacing the main switches and the 16 remote switches without disrupting service would take over one year and cost more than $15 million. Vitelco argues that grant of its waiver will not harm IXCs or customers, asserting that, in the past four years, only seven IXCs have sought to operate in the Virgin Islands. Vitelco also notes that, while the Commission considered information from Nortel and Lucent in determining whether the hardware and software necessary to upgrade equipment to accept four-digit CICs had been made available, it failed to consider information about Alcatel. D. Request for Extension Until December 1, 1998 25. Hillsboro, an incumbent LEC serving approximately 1,600 access lines in southwestern Wisconsin, that became an equal access provider in 1990, requests an extension of the switch conversion deadline until December 1, 1998. Hillsboro asserts that it began planning for conversion to four-digit CICs in 1995, in response to the CICs NPRM which proposed a six-year transition. Hillsboro determined that, to achieve four-digit CIC capability, its Nortel DMS-10 switch would need to be retrofitted with numerous hardware modifications, including a new central processor, memory packs, and network packs, and would require a software upgrade, from 402.53 to at least 405.20. Hillsboro determined that the cost of the central office equipment needed for an overall network modernization plan, including these upgrades, would be approximately $746,000. Because of this substantial cost, in late 1995, Hillsboro initiated the process of obtaining an RUS Hardship Loan. Upon release of the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997, establishing the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline, Hillsboro submitted its formal loan proposal to RUS in May 1997. Hillsboro asserts that, under RUS procedures, prior to installation, Hillsboro must: (1) submit plans and specifications to RUS, and wait for RUS approval (six weeks); (2) solicit proposals, and wait for Nortel and other bidders to respond (six weeks); (3) conduct an engineering review of the proposals in consultation with an RUS field engineer (four weeks); (4) receive approval of the proposals from RUS headquarters in Washington, DC, before Hillsboro can execute a contract (three weeks); and (5) prepare, assemble, and execute contract documents and submit them to RUS to receive approval (two weeks). Hillsboro asserts that it may not place an order with an equipment manufacturer prior to approval of the loan, without jeopardizing approval of the loan request. 26. Hillsboro asserts that it is unlikely to receive RUS loan and contract approval prior to July 1998, a process which Hillsboro is not able to expedite. Hillsboro asserts that even if it received loan and contract approval as of the filing of Hillsboro's petition on December 10, 1997, the products and installations necessary to complete the upgrade would not be available to Hillsboro prior to April 1998. Hillsboro asserts that it expects that, based on average Nortel installation times, and because of Nortel's backlog, Hillsboro will complete conversion to four-digit CIC capability four months after it places a formal order for the equipment. Hillsboro asserts, therefore, that installation cannot occur prior to December 1, 1998. Hillsboro asserts that it contacted Ameritech about the possibility of its performing the changes for Hillsboro, but discovered that Ameritech could not perform the conversion. Ameritech also was unwilling to incur the expense involved in having Ameritech's Madison, Wisconsin tandem switch perform special translations for three to four-digit CIC conversion for only one switch. 27. Hillsboro argues that its situation is different than that of Clarks, Eustis/Home, and Henderson, to whom the Division, in the First CICs Waiver Order, declined to grant extensions until January 1, 2000. Hillsboro argues that Clarks, Eustis/Home, and Henderson, unlike Hillsboro, failed to demonstrate diligence in seeking to comply with the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. Hillsboro asserts that it was diligent in immediately taking steps to implement its upgrade when the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order accelerating the end to the transition. Hillsboro argues that this diligence, combined with the timing constraints of the RUS process and the burdens Hillsboro would face if required to spend the $746,000 necessary for upgrades without an RUS loan, outweigh the burdens the waiver would have on the IXCs served by Hillsboro, and on the ability of Hillsboro's customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing for five months beyond the end of the permissive dialing period. III. DISCUSSION 28. The Commission may waive any provision of its rules, in whole or in part, if good cause is shown. An applicant for waiver must demonstrate that special circumstances warrant a deviation from the general rule and that such deviation will serve the public interest. In the First CICs Waiver Order, we stated the factors we weighed in evaluating each petition for waiver: the LEC's diligence in upgrading its switches; the availability from manufacturers of products required to accomplish the upgrade; and the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by the LEC's switches and on customers' ability to reach IXCs through CAC dialing. In the Second CICs Waiver Order, and again here, we have weighed these same factors in evaluating each petition before us. 29. Requests for Extension Ending Before June 30, 1998. We find that the petitions for waiver filed by Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, and Indianhead demonstrate the special circumstances meriting a waiver of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. First, each has demonstrated that it is diligently working to upgrade its switches. For example, Roosevelt asserts that it contacted Nortel about purchasing a new switch in February, 1997, and originally expected completion of installation and conversion by November 15, 1997. West Texas asserts that it began its upgrade process in June 1997, after learning from the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997, that the conversion deadline would be earlier than the Commission originally proposed. Ruthven asserts that when the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order, it took steps to expedite delivery of a new switch and accelerate the implementation schedule, and asserts that the switch was delivered during the first week of November 1997. Indianhead asserts that it has ordered the hardware and software necessary to enable its network to recognize four-digit CICs, and expects to receive the equipment during the first quarter of 1998, followed by installation and testing to make the system operational no later than May 31, 1998. 30. Second, based on their petitions, we conclude that Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, and Indianhead have demonstrated that the product needed to accomplish the upgrade to their individual networks is not readily available from switch manufacturers, which has delayed their ability to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. For example, Roosevelt asserts that, because of unanticipated engineering complexities and Nortel's recent backlog of work, completion of installation and conversion of its new Nortel switch has been delayed from November 15, 1997, until February 28, 1998. The additional costs West Texas asserts it would be forced to expend to comply with the January 1, 1998 deadline make the product necessary for conversion effectively "unavailable" for West Texas' non-conforming end offices. Ruthven asserts that, although its switch was delivered during the first week of November 1997, and is currently being installed, completion of installation may be delayed due to Mitel's holiday closing. The product, therefore, is effectively "unavailable" because installation has not yet been completed. Indianhead asserts that it has not yet received the hardware and software it has ordered to enable its network to recognize four-digit CICs. 31. Third, we conclude that the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, and Indianhead, and on the ability of those LECs' customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing, does not outweigh the burden on those LECs that would be imposed by a denial of their petitions for waiver. Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, and Indianhead all serve a limited number of access lines. Roosevelt's network serves 2,150 access lines. West Texas serves approximately 1,900 access lines. Ruthven serves one exchange with approximately 835 access lines. Indianhead serves three exchanges with a total of approximately 2,053 access lines. Roosevelt has requested an extension until February 28, 1998, West Texas and Ruthven have requested extensions until March 31, 1998, and Indianhead has requested an extension until May 31, 1998. Accordingly, the grant of their requested waivers will not affect or interfere with the end of the permissive dialing period on June 30, 1998. 32. Requests for Extension Until June 30, 1998. We find that the petitions for waiver filed by Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs demonstrate the special circumstances meriting a waiver of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. First, each has demonstrated that it is diligently working to upgrade or replace its switches. For example, both Tatum and Haxtun assert that, upon learning of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline set in the CICs Second Report and Order, they contacted Stromberg-Carlson to discuss network configuration options but that, after Stromberg-Carlson delayed in responding to them and then offered unacceptable price quotes, they contacted Nortel for a recommendation. Based on Nortel's recommendation, Tatum chose a switch replacement and Haxtun a host/remote network configuration. Albion asserts that, at the end of 1996, it devised a construction plan to upgrade all of its switches to four-digit CIC capability, and that, at this time, six of Albion's eleven switches are four-digit CIC compliant. It expects installation and conversion of the remaining switches between April and June 1998. Miller asserts that: (1) on July 11, 1997, it was notified that its RUS loan was approved (a process Miller initiated upon learning of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline); (2) on November 13, 1997, it received approval from the MOPSC; (3) due to the delay in receiving MOPSC's letter of approval, it was unable to commence the ordering process until November 25, 1997; and (4) it anticipates completing implementation on or before June 30, 1998. Schaller asserts that it has switch replacements planned for the first half of 1998, and that it is in the process of obtaining RUS financing, and expects to have new switches operational before June 30, 1998. ENMR asserts that it is in the final stage of upgrading its network to four-digit CIC capability, under a network modernization plan it began in February 1996, which ENMR asserts it accelerated when the Commission released the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997. Roome asserts that it originally had a switch replacement scheduled for the beginning of the first quarter of 1997, but was required to change switching vendors and is expeditiously working with the new vendor to complete installation, which Roome anticipates occurring by mid- April 1998. Northwestern asserts that, upon release of the CICs Second Report and Order in April 1997, it made efforts to assess the steps necessary to meet the January 1, 1998 deadline. Northwestern has made arrangements to purchase a new Siemens-Stromberg switch, after learning that Alcatel would no longer offer support for Northwestern's switching equipment and software. Northwestern asserts that it considered purchasing new switches from other manufacturers, but that none could guarantee installation by January 1, 1998. 33. Since they learned recently from INS that they would need to upgrade or replace their individual switches to become four-digit CIC compliant, the eleven Iowa LECs have demonstrated that they are diligently working to achieve compliance before the end of the permissive dialing period: (1) Coon Valley intends to expedite its software upgrade plans, originally scheduled for the third quarter of 1998; (2) Hawkeye, after learning recently that its software cannot accommodate four-digit CICs, is expeditiously working with the manufacturer to estimate the costs and timing of a software upgrade; (3) Radcliffe, having originally planned a software generic upgrade for the last quarter of 1998, entered into negotiations with Nortel for an interim software generic upgrade; (4) Leigh anticipated having new switches installed and operational by December 1997, but, due to various missed scheduled dates in the installation, asserts that they will not be complete and operational until February 1, 1998; (5) Defiance is negotiating with Nortel for switch replacements and is seeking delivery and installation dates that allow it to be four-digit CIC compliant by the end of the permissive dialing period; (6) Manilla also is negotiating with Nortel for switch replacements and is seeking delivery and installation dates that allow it to be four-digit CIC compliant by the end of the permissive dialing period; (7) Lone Rock, while it is waiting to hear from Nortel about a possible auxiliary upgrade to its current software, has established contingency plans, including an upgrade to a higher software generic, switch sharing with a neighboring LEC, and switch replacement; (8) Norway is reviewing a proposed network configuration to replace its current switch with a remote switch and asserts that it, if the configuration is not possible, it is prepared to lease a switch from another company; (9) Breda asserts that it has initiated an interconnection agreement with an affiliated competitive LEC (CLEC) to act as a host switch for various features and functions to include the four-digit CIC capability; (10) Jordan-Soldier asserts that it has initiated an interconnection agreement with a neighboring LEC to act as a host switch; and (11) Prairie asserts that, after having initiated contacts in late April 1997, it currently is negotiating an interconnection agreement with neighboring LECs, and will expedite the process as necessary. 34. Second, based on their petitions, we conclude that Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs have demonstrated that the product needed to accomplish the upgrade to their individual networks is not readily available from switch manufacturers, which has delayed their ability to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. For example, both Tatum and Haxtun assert that the switching equipment they ordered from Nortel equipment resellers is in the process of being shipped. Albion asserts that the upgraded remote switches were shipped in November 1997, and installation and conversion will be completed between April and June 1998. The product, therefore, is effectively "unavailable" because the equipment manufacturers are unable to deliver and install the equipment by the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. Miller asserts that, due a delay in receiving MOPSC's letter of approval for its loan, it did not begin the switch upgrade ordering process until November 25, 1997, and that installation will begin immediately upon delivery of the software. Schaller has not yet ordered its new switches because it is waiting to obtain RUS financing. ENMR asserts the equipment and installations necessary to meet the January 1, 1998 deadline for all of its switches is not available. ENMR asserts that consultations with its switch manufacturer, Nortel (and with an engineering firm) led ENMR to determine that 15 of ENMR's 25 exchanges cannot be converted to four-digit CICs until the end of June 1998. Roome asserts that it has begun the process of installing a new switch, which was delayed due to circumstances beyond its control, but which Roome anticipates occurring by mid-April 1998. Northwestern asserts that Alcatel, its switch manufacturer, informed Northwestern that it is no longer offering support for Northwestern's switching equipment and software. Accordingly, Northwestern has decided to replace its switches, and has made the necessary arrangements to purchase replacement switches. The eleven Iowa LECs did not learn from INS until November 1997 that they would need to upgrade or replace their individual switches to become four-digit CIC compliant, rather than relying on the centralized, INS switch. Thus, although the product needed to accomplish the upgrades for their individual networks might have been available, because they were unaware of the need for it until November 1997, it is effectively "unavailable" to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. 35. Third, we conclude that the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs, and on the ability of those LECs' customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing, does not outweigh the burden on those LECs that would be imposed by a denial of their petitions for waiver. Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs all serve a limited number of access lines. Tatum serves one exchange with approximately 815 access lines. Haxtun serves three exchanges with a total of 1,874 access lines. Of the eleven exchanges Albion serves, with a total of approximately 4,268 access lines, it requests a waiver for five of those exchanges, with a total of approximately 1,017 access lines. Miller serves one exchange with approximately 1038 access lines. Schaller serves approximately 1,800 access lines. ENMR serves 25 exchanges with a total of 12,000 access lines. Roome serves one exchange with approximately 798 access lines. Northwestern serves five exchanges with a total of approximately 10,000 access lines. Breda seeks a waiver for two out of its three exchanges, serving a total of 792 (out of Breda's total 1,100) access lines. The exchange for which Coon Valley seeks a waiver serves 454 access lines. Defiance serves one exchange with 252 access lines. Hawkeye serves one exchange with 485 access lines. Jordan-Soldier serves one exchange with 337 access lines. Lehigh Valley serves four exchanges with a total of 1,894 access lines. Lone Rock serves one exchange with 288 access lines. Manilla serves one exchange with 571 access lines. Norway serves one exchange with 653 access lines. Prairie seeks a waiver for two of its three exchanges, serving a total of 628 (out of Prairie's total 1,000) access lines. Radcliffe serves one exchange with 515 access lines. Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, and the eleven Iowa LECs do not seek extensions beyond June 30, 1998. Accordingly, the grant of their requested waivers will not affect or interfere with the end of the permissive dialing period on June 30, 1998. 36. Request for Extension of Vitelco Until July 1, 1998. We find that the petition for waiver filed by Vitelco demonstrates the special circumstances meriting a waiver of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. First, Vitelco has demonstrated that it is diligently working upgrade its switches. Vitelco asserts that despite its repeated inquiries to Alcatel, Vitelco's primary equipment vendor, Alcatel is still evaluating Vitelco's upgrade request. Vitelco asserts that it also has obtained the necessary information to convert the Nortel DMS- 100 switch, which requires only a software upgrade. Vitelco asserts that it has considered changing out the switch, but that the process of replacing the main switches and the 16 remote switches without disrupting service would take over one year and cost more than $15 million. Second, based on its petition, we conclude that Vitelco has demonstrated that the product needed to accomplish the upgrade is not readily available from switch manufacturers, which has delayed Vitelco's ability to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. Vitelco asserts that Alcatel has determined that it cannot complete upgrades by the January 1, 1998 deadline, and that, under existing licensing agreements for its main tandem switch, only Alcatel can perform work to convert the switch. Vitelco also asserts that acquisition of new parts will be difficult because the Alcatel-1210 switch has been discontinued by the manufacturer. Third, we conclude that the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by Vitelco, and on the ability of Vitelco's customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing, does not outweigh the burden on Vitelco that would be imposed by a denial of its petition for waiver. Vitelco asserts that it operates approximately 60,000 switched access lines spread over multiple islands, in the United States Virgin Islands, and that, in the past four years, only seven IXCs have sought to operate in the Virgin Islands. Because the permissive dialing period ends on June 30, 1998, we grant Vitelco's request until that date, rather than until July 1, 1998, to avoid disruption to IXCs and to the public when the permissive dialing period ends on June 30, 1998. 37. We recognize that the grant of these extensions will shorten or eliminate the time we provided for IXCs to prepare their networks and to educate their customers, in creating a two-step transition in our Order on Reconsideration. We find, however, that the technical and economic burden on these LECs that would be imposed by a denial of the extensions outweighs the burden to the IXCs and their customers. Each petitioner asserts that, even if it were technically feasible, it would suffer undue economic burden in attempting to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. Further, the economic burdens imposed by a denial of the extensions would be borne by the LECs' customers. We note, moreover, that only IXCs that have been issued a four-digit CIC (who cannot currently receive CAC calls originating with the LECs' customers) will be affected by the grant of the waivers. The petitioners' networks can, and will continue to, accept CAC calling for IXCs with three-digit CICs until the transition ends on June 30, 1998. Although we recognize the potential anticompetitive effects of the dialing disparity and seek to minimize them, we believe that those effects are outweighed by the economic and technical burdens likely to be imposed on the LECs by a failure to extend the conversion deadline for them. Thus, on balance, we find that the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, Indianhead, Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, the eleven Iowa LECs, and Vitelco, and on the ability of those LECs' customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing, does not outweigh the burden on the LECs that would be imposed by a denial of the extension requests. 38. We note that the CICs Order on Reconsideration, in addition to requiring four- digit CIC conversion by equal access LECs as of January 1, 1998, also requires that LECs must offer a standard intercept message beginning on or before June 30, 1998, explaining that a dialing pattern change has occurred and instructing the caller to contact its IXC for further information. The Commission requires that, in developing an intercept message, LECs must consult with IXCs and reach agreement on the content of the message and on the period of time during which the message will be provided. We emphasize that Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, Indianhead, Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, the eleven Iowa LECs, and Vitelco must comply with the Commission's intercept message requirement. 39. Request for Extension of Hillsboro until December 1, 1998. While we also find that the petition for waiver filed by Hillsboro demonstrates the special circumstances meriting a waiver of the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline, we condition our grant of Hillsboro's requested extension until December 1, 1998, as described below. 40. We find that Hillsboro warrants an extension of the conversion deadline. First, Hillsboro has demonstrated that it is diligently working to convert to four-digit CICs. Hillsboro asserts that in late 1995, it initiated the process of obtaining an RUS Hardship Loan, and, in May 1997, after release of the CICs Second Report and Order establishing the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline, it submitted a formal loan proposal to RUS. Hillsboro asserts that once it submitted a formal loan proposal, it cannot expedite the process. Second, based on its petition, we conclude that Hillsboro has demonstrated that the product needed to accomplish the upgrade to its network is not readily available from switch manufacturers, which has delayed Hillsboro's ability to meet the January 1, 1998 conversion deadline. Hillsboro asserts that even if it received loan and contract approval as of the filing of Hillsboro's petition on December 10, 1997, the products and installations necessary to complete the upgrade would not be available to Hillsboro prior to April 1998. Hillsboro asserts that it expects that, based on average Nortel installation times, and in light of Nortel's backlog, Hillsboro will complete the conversion to accept four-digit CICs four months after it places a formal order for the equipment. Third, we conclude that the impact of an extension of the conversion deadline on the IXCs served by Hillsboro, and on the ability of Hillsboro's customers to reach IXCs through CAC dialing, does not outweigh the burden on Hillsboro that would be imposed by a denial of its petition for waiver. Hillsboro serves only approximately 1,600 access lines. The effect on seven-digit CAC dialing for this small number of access lines is not outweighed by the burden that would be imposed on Hillsboro by requiring it to spend the $746,000 necessary for upgrades without an RUS loan. 41. We cannot ignore, however, the difficulties that the IXCs served by Hillsboro will experience in educating their customers about the forthcoming changes in dialing patterns, and the inability of these IXCs' customers to reach them through CAC dialing after the transition ends on June 30, 1998. We, therefore, condition our grant of Hillsboro's waiver request until December 1, 1998. As of June 30, 1998, IXCs will have converted three-digit CICs to four-digits and five-digit CACs to seven digits. IXCs assigned four-digit CICs will expect their customers to be able to reach them by dialing seven-digit CACs. Their customers will have the same expectation. As we did with Roosevelt, West Texas, Ruthven, Indianhead, Tatum, Haxtun, Albion, Miller, Schaller, ENMR, Roome, Northwestern, the eleven Iowa LECs, and Vitelco, we require that Hillsboro offer an intercept message by June 30, 1998. We modify that requirement, however, for Hillsboro. Specifically, we require that, beginning on June 30, 1998, in its intercept message, Hillsboro indicate that callers will not be able to reach their long distance carriers through access code dialing until December 1, 1998. This intercept messages should help minimize disruption to the IXCs served by Hillsboro, and to those IXCs' customers trying to reach Hillsboro by CAC dialing between June 30, 1998, and the expiration of Hillsboro's waiver on December 1, 1998. We also require that Hillsboro provide the same notification in bill inserts to customers. 42. In addition, because we grant Hillsboro an extension significantly beyond the end of the permissive dialing period, we impose an additional requirement on Hillsboro to assist the Bureau in monitoring Hillsboro's diligence in converting to four-digit CICs by December 1, 1998, the expiration of its waiver. Specifically, Hillsboro must file two reports with the Network Services Division of the Common Carrier Bureau, the first on June, 30 1998 and the second on September 30, 1998, detailing the progress it has made towards installation and operation of its new, four-digit CIC compliant switch. The reports should contain information concerning, but not limited to, the status of: action on Hillsboro's RUS loan application; Hillsboro's placement of an order with a manufacturer; and installation of any equipment received. We believe such a reporting condition is necessary to ensure that Hillsboro complies with the Commission's four-digit CIC conversion requirement in a manner consistent with the public interest and to avoid further requests for waiver of the conversion deadline. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 43. IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Limited Waiver of Roosevelt County Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until February 28, 1998. 44. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Waiver of West Texas Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc., IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until March 31, 1998. 45. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Ruthven Telephone Exchange Company for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until March 31, 1998. 46. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Request for Waiver of Indianhead Telephone Company IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until May 31, 1998. 47. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Tatum Telephone Company for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 48. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Haxtun Telephone Company for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 49. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Albion Telephone Company, Inc., for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 50. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Miller Telephone Company for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 51. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Request for Waiver of Schaller Telephone Company IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 52. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Limited Waiver of ENMR Telephone Cooperative, Inc., IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 53. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Waiver of Roome Telecommunications, Inc., for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 54. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Limited Waiver of Northwestern Indiana Telephone Company, Inc., IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998. 55. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the GVNW Inc./Management Petition of Eleven (11) Iowa Local Exchange Telephone Companies for Waiver of the January 1, 1998 Implementation Date for 4-Digit CIC IS GRANTED by extending for each carrier the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability as follows: for Lehigh Valley Co-op Telephone Association until March 1, 1998, and for Breda Telephone Company, Coon Valley Cooperative Telephone Association, Inc., Defiance Telephone Company, Hawkeye Telephone Company, Jordan-Soldier Telephone Company, Lone Rock Cooperative Telephone Company, Manilla Telephone Company, Norway Rural Telephone Company, Prairie Telephone Company, and Radcliffe Telephone Company, until June 30, 1998. 56. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition of Vitelco for Waiver of the Commission's Rules Regarding Transition to Four-digit CICs by January 1, 1998, IS GRANTED IN PART, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until June 30, 1998, and DENIED IN PART, to the extent Vitelco requests extension beyond that date. 57. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, pursuant to Section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.3, and authority delegated in Section 0.91 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, and Section 0.291 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.291, that the Petition for Limited Waiver of Hillsboro Telephone Company Inc., IS GRANTED, by extending for it the switch conversion deadline for four-digit CIC capability until December 1, 1998, subject to the conditions stated herein. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Geraldine A. Matise Chief, Network Services Division Common Carrier Bureau