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



In re Request of                   )
                                   )
TONGASS TELECOMMUNICATIONS         )    CWD 97-13
                                   )
For Special Temporary Authority    )
to Construct and Operate a Rural             )
Radio Service Station on the Frequencies          )
152.21 MHz and 158.67 MHz at       )
Petersburg, Alaska                 )




                             ORDER



   Adopted:  October 20, 1999           Released:  October 20, 1999

By the Deputy Chief, Policy and Rules Branch, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau:

     1.   On November 15, 1996, Tongass Telecommunications (Tongass) filed a petition for
reconsideration (Petition) of an action taken by the Commercial Wireless Division's Narrowband Branch
(Branch) denying the captioned request for special temporary authority (Request).  For the reasons
discussed below, we deny the Petition.

     2.   Tongass filed its Request on October 4, 1996.  The Branch denied the Request on October
16, 1996.  Specifically, the Branch noted that Section 22.125 of the Commission's rules states that special
temporary authorizations (STAs) will be granted in circumstances requiring immediate or temporary use of
facilities.  The Branch denied the Request because the purpose of the Request  was to implement service to
an area that was not previously served.  The Branch explained that special temporary authorizations are
meant to provide service in situations where service has been lost or interrupted and the implementation of
service to an area that was not previously served is not the type of situation for which an STA was
designed to be used.  

     3.   In its Petition, Tongass presents no new facts or arguments that would lead us to change
the Branch's decision.  Accordingly, the Petition is denied. 


     4.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to sections 4(i) and 405 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i), 405, and sections 0.331, 1.106, and
22.125 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.331, 1.106, 22.125, the petition for reconsideration filed
by Tongass Telecommunications on November 15, 1996, IS DENIED.


                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              
                              Cynthia S. Thomas                  
                                   Deputy Chief, Policy and Rules Branch
                              Commercial Wireless Division
                              Wireless Telecommunications Bureau