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                                                                                                               Before the
                     Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                     )
                                     )
Application of Central Telephone Company )
to Sell Certain Local Exchange Facilities in )     NSD File No. W-P-D-430
Illinois to Gallatin River Communications, )
L.L.C. Pursuant to 47 U.S.C.  214   )


                           ORDER AND CERTIFICATE

     Adopted:  July 24, 1998     Released:  July 27, 1998

By the Deputy Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau:

     1.  On April 23, May 7, and May 29, 1998, Central Telephone Company of Illinois
(Central), a subsidiary of Sprint Corporation (Sprint), filed letters seeking to obtain authority
to sell certain local exchange facilities in Illinois to Gallatin River Communications, L.L.C.
(Gallatin River).  The service areas include 80,181 access lines in 24 communities:  Avon,
Cameron, Dixon, Forest City, Galesburg, Grand Detour, Green Valley, Harmon, Havana,
Knoxville, Lacon, Livingston, Manito, Mount Carroll, Nelson, North Pekin, Pekin, Savanna,
South Pekin, Staunton, Talbott, Thomson, Topeka, and Wataga.  

     2.  On June 9, 1998, the Commission released a Public Notice accepting Central's
letters for filing as an application for discontinuance of service under section 214 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  214, and Part 63 of the Commission's
rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 63.  No comments or opposition statements were filed in response to the
Public Notice.

     3.  Central states in its April 23 letter that it provides telephone exchange service and
exchange access, as well as calling card, payphone, operator and directory assistance services
and other services customarily provided by local exchange carriers, and that the service
available to the affected communities will be unchanged as a result of the granting of this
application.  Central states that Gallatin River will provide service subject to its own tariffed
rates, that the existing local and intraLATA calling rates will be maintained, and that the
efficiencies created by this transaction likely will result in lower rates for most customers.  In
response to section 63.505(l) of the Commission's rules, which requires information
regarding the number of toll messages sent-paid and received-collect and the revenues from
such traffic in connection with the service proposed to be discontinued, reduced, or impaired,
Central states, "There will be no discontinuance, reduction or impairment of the services
currently provided to the affected communities."  We interpret Central's statement as a
request for waiver of section 63.505(l).

     4.  Central further states in its April 23 letter that it will notify the Commission when
the publication and posting of notices under section 63.90 are complete.  Section 63.90(a) -
(b) requires an applicant to post public notices of the proposed discontinuance in a newspaper,
on the window of the local exchanges in question, and in a newspaper of general circulation
in the community, and section 63.90(d) requires the applicant to give written notice of its
application with a copy of the application to its state Commission.  Central's May 29 letter
transmits an affidavit attesting to notification regarding this sale, with exhibits of the letter
mailed to all affected customers on April 22, 1998, and of the joint press release by Sprint
and Gallatin River issued April 22, 1998, and a statement that Central and Sprint filed a joint
petition for approval of the transaction with the Illinois Commerce Commission on April 23,
1998.

     5.  We conclude that Central has not complied with section 63.90 of the Commission's
rules.  We conclude, however, that, because substantial notice has been given directly to the
affected customers and Central has sought approval before the Illinois Commerce
Commission, the purposes of section 63.90 have been satisfied.  Therefore, we waive, on our
own motion, the requirements of section 63.90(a)-(d).  We require that Central notify its
affected customers of the release of this Order and Certificate within 15 days of the sale of its
local exchange facilities.

     6.  Having reviewed the application, we find that it complies with the requirements of
section 214 of the Communications Act and Part 63 of our rules.  Furthermore, for the
reasons stated in the application, and after consideration of the affidavit, we find that the
transaction described will not adversely affect the present or the future public convenience
and necessity. 

     7.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to section 214(a) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. 
214(a), and sections 0.91, 0.291 and 1.3 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91, 0.291,
and 1.3, that sections 63.505(l) and 63.90(a)-(d) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. 
63.505(l) and 63.90(a)-(d), ARE WAIVED and the above-referenced application, File No. W-
P-D-430, IS GRANTED.  Central Telephone Company of Illinois IS AUTHORIZED to
discontinue service over the facilities described in this application.

     8.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the grant of this application IS SUBJECT TO
THE CONDITION that Central notify its affected customers of the release of this Order and
Certificate within 15 days of the sale of the local exchange facilities.

     9.  This Order and Certificate IS EFFECTIVE upon release.  Failure of the applicant
to decline the authorization in writing within thirty-one days from the release date will be
construed as formal acceptance.


     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



     Anna M. Gomez, Deputy Chief
     Network Services Division
     Common Carrier Bureau