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 May 1, 2000 COMMENTS INVITED ON U S WEST'S APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE OPERATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES WITHIN FOURTEEN NEBRASKA EXCHANGES NSD File No. W-P-D-463 Section 214 Application Applicant: U S WEST Communications, Inc. On April 21, 2000, U S WEST Communications, Inc. (U S WEST) 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 14 Nebraska exchanges (Attachment A). U S WEST states it has agreed to transfer those facilities to Citizens Telecommunications Company of Nebraska (Citizens). U S WEST states these 14 exchanges collectively serve approximately 14,600 access lines; approximately 103 of these lines are physically located in South Dakota but are served out of a Nebraska exchange. U S WEST also states that 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 14 exchanges. U S WEST anticipates that service will improve over time, because Citizens has substantial expertise in providing telecommunications services in rural communities and this experience will ultimately inure to the benefit of telecommunications subscribers within the eight exchanges. U S WEST's application appears to be complete. U S WEST states that it has notified all affected customers in Nebraska and South Dakota by letter of its proposed discontinuance and has submitted a copy of its application to the Secretary of Defense, the Nebraska Public Utilities Commission and South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, and the Governors of Nebraska and South Dakota. 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 application is accepted for filing without any Commission notification to the applicant, unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. The Commission normally will 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 May 23, 2000. Such comments should refer to application file number W-P-D-463. 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. 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. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- ATTACHMENT A Exchanges being transferred by U S West Communications, Inc. to Citizens Telecommunications Compnay of Nebraska, Inc.: Exchange Number of Access Lines Ainsworth 1,792 Atkinson 1,403 Atlanta 126 Emerson 641 Farwell 178 Howells 630 Humphrey-Creston 1,128 O'Neill 3,262 Oxford 645 Pilger 385 Randolph 873 Silver Creek 417 St. Liberty 399 Valentine 2,724