1 News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY 202 / 418-2555 1 PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 00-2152 Released: September 22, 2000 COMMENTS INVITED ON QWEST CORPORATION'S APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE OPERATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES WITHIN 17 COLORADO EXCHANGES NSD File No. W-P-D-469 Section 214 Application Applicant: Qwest Corporation On August 24, 2000, Qwest Corporation ("Qwest" or "Applicant") filed an application requesting authority under section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C.  214(a), and section 63.71 of the Federal Communications Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  63.71, to discontinue operation of its telecommunications facilities within 17 Colorado exchanges. The application states that Qwest has agreed to transfer the 17 exchanges to Citizens Telecommunications Company of Colorado, Inc. ("Citizens"), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citizens Utilities Company, a diversified public utility that, through its various operating divisions or subsidiaries, currently provides telecommunications, electric, gas, water and wastewater services to approximately 1.9 million customers in twenty-two states. The exchanges and the number of access lines in each exchange are set forth in Attachment A. These 17 exchanges collectively serve approximately 47,000 access lines, of which approximately 18 are physically located in Nebraska. Applicant states the planned transfer of the exchanges and the associated assets will have no known immediate or substantial effect on the service provided to customers within the 17 exchanges. Applicant states it is anticipated that service will improve over time since Citizens specializes in providing telecommunications services to small and medium sized markets. Applicant also states that notices were sent to all affected customers in Colorado and Nebraska. It has provided a copy of this application to the Secretary of Defense, the Governors of Colorado and Nebraska, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, and the Nebraska Public Service Commission. In accordance with 47 C.F.R.  63.71(c), the application will be deemed to be automatically granted on the 60th day after the release date of this notice without any Commission notification to the applicant, unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. The FCC will normally authorize proposed discontinuances of service unless it is shown that customers or other end users would be unable to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another carrier, or that the public convenience and necessity is otherwise adversely affected. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission by October 23, 2000. Such comments should refer to application file number W-P-D-469. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two copies of the comments should also be sent to the Network Services Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 6-A207, Washington, DC 20554. The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270. This application may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20TH Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, telephone 202- 857-3800, facsimile 202-857-3805, TTY 202-293-8810. For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499 (voice), amccloud@fcc.gov or Marty Schwimmer, (202) 418-2320 (voice), mschwimm@fcc.gov, of the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau, or visit our website at: http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/nsd/documents/214.html. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- ATTACHMENT A Exchanges being transferred by Qwest Corporation to Citizens Telecommunications Company of Colorado, Inc.: Exchange Number of Access Lines Alamosa 7,349 Buena Vista 4,358 Calhan 1,164 Crested Butte 4,173 Del Norte 1,527 Fairplay 2,744 Gunnison 6,995 Julesburg 1,185 Meeker 2,352 Mesa Verde 162 Monte Vista 4,312 Oak Creek 1,176 Ovid 503 Peyton 1,272 Salida 6,219 Southfork 1,350 Yampa 431