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 **************************************** **************** NOTICE ******************************************************** This document was converted from WordPerfect or Word to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** DA 00-2153 Released: September 22, 2000 COMMENTS INVITED ON QWEST CORPORATION'S APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE OPERATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES WITHIN 5 WYOMING EXCHANGES NSD File No. W-P-D-470 Section 214 Application Applicant: Qwest Corporation On September 7, 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 five Wyoming exchanges. The application states that Qwest has agreed to transfer the five exchanges to Citizens Telecommunications Company of Wyoming, Inc. ("Citizens"), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citizens Communications Company, formerly known as Citizens Utilities Company, Inc. The exchanges and the number of access lines in each exchange are set forth in Attachment A. These five exchanges collectively serve approximately 6,000 access lines, of which approximately 34 are physically located in Idaho. 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 five exchanges. Applicant states it is anticipated that service will improve over time since Citizens specializes in providing telecommunications services in rural communities. Applicant also states that notices were sent to all affected customers in Wyoming and Idaho. It has provided a copy of this application to the Secretary of Defense, the Governors of Wyoming and Idaho, the Wyoming Public Service Commission, and the Idaho Public Utilities 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-470. 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 Wyoming, Inc.: Exchange Number of Access Lines Afton 1,600 Lake 1,244 Lusk 1,567 Mammoth 984 Old Faithful 615