PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 98-1691 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION'S AND TWENTY RURAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES' PETITION FOR AGREEMENT WITH DESIGNATION OF RURAL COMPANY ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER SERVICE AREAS AT THE EXCHANGE LEVEL AND FOR APPROVAL OF THE USE OF DISAGGREGATION OF STUDY AREAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING PORTABLE FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT CC DOCKET NO. 96-45 Released: August 24, 1998 Comment Date: September 14, 1998 Reply Date: September 28, 1998 On August 17, 1998, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission ("WUTC"), Asotin Telephone Company, CenturyTel of Cowiche, Ellensburg Telephone Company, CenturyTel of Washington, Hat Island Telephone Company, Hood Canal Telephone Co., Inc., Inland Telephone Company, Kalama Telephone Company, Lewis River Telephone Company, Mashell Telecom, Inc., McDaniel Telephone Company, Pend Oreille Telephone Company, Pioneer Telephone Company, St. John, Co-operative Telephone and Telegraph Company, Tenino Telephone Company, The Toledo Telephone Co., Inc., United Telephone Company of the Northwest, Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company, Whidbey Telephone Company, and Yelm Telephone Company (collectively, "Petitioners") filed a Petition for Agreement with Designation of Rural Company Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Service Areas at the Exchange Level and for Approval of the use of disaggregation of study areas for the purpose of distributing portable federal universal service support. Pursuant to section 214(e)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Federal Act), 47 U.S.C.  214(e)(5), and 47 C.F.R.  54.207, the Petitioners petition the Federal Communication Commission (Commission) for agreement with WUTC's service area designation which differ from the "study areas" of those companies designated as eligible telecommunications carriers under the Federal Act. In addition, pursuant to 47 C.F.R.  1.3, the Petitioners also petition the Commission for a waiver of the Commission's existing method of "porting" available universal service funds set forth in 47 C.F.R.  54.307 and for approval of a proposed alternative methodology. The Petitioners state that the proposed methodology reflects the differences in costs for each exchange of the multi-exchange rural companies and also reflects the differences in costs between densely populated and sparsely populated areas within exchanges. The Petitioners request that the amount of federal universal service support made portable be based on the disaggregation of the service areas into two zones per exchange or wire center. Further, the Petitioners do not request, and assert that the proposed methodology does not require, any increase in the amount of federal universal service support funds for Washington. The Petitioners contend that granting the Petition would encourage competition in rural areas by limiting the requirement that competitors enter into an incumbent's entire "study area," which my include widely dispersed exchanges, but it would minimize incentives of competitors to seek and serve only low cost customers within a given rural exchange. Parties wishing to comment on the Joint Petition for Waiver are directed to file the comments on or before September 14, 1998, to file reply comments on or before September 28, 1998, in accordance with section 1.415 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.415, and the procedures set forth below. Procedure for Filing All filings should reference: Joint Petition for Agreement with Designation of Rural Company Eligible Telecommunications Carrier Service Areas at the Exchange Level filed by: the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Asotin Telephone Company, CenturyTel of Cowiche, Ellensburg Telephone Company, CenturyTel of Washington, Hat Island Telephone Company, Hood Canal Telephone Co., Inc., Inland Telephone Company, Kalama Telephone Company, Lewis River Telephone Company, Mashell Telecom, Inc., McDaniel Telephone Company, Pend Oreille Telephone Company, Pioneer Telephone Company, St. John, Co-Operative Telephone and Telegraph Company, Tenino Telephone Company, The Toledo Telephone Co., Inc., United Telephone Company of the Northwest, Western Wahkiakum County Telephone Company, Whidbey Telephone Company, and Yelm Telephone Company, CC Docket No. 96-45, and should include the DA number shown on this Public Notice. Interested parties must file an original and six copies of their comments with the Office of Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties should send three copies of their comments to Sheryl Todd, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 2100 M. St, N.W., 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties should send one copy of their comments to the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Copies of documents filed with the Commission, including the Joint Petition for Waiver, may be obtained from the International Transcription Service, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800. Documents are also available for review and copying at the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parties may also file comments electronically via the Internet at: . Only one copy of an electronic submission must be submitted. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the lead docket number for this proceeding, which is Docket No. 96-45. Parties not submitting their comments via the Internet are also asked to submit their comments on diskette. Parties submitting diskettes should submit them to Sheryl Todd at the address noted above. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible format using WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows or compatible software. The diskette should be accompanied by a cover letter and should be submitted in "read only" mode. The diskette should be clearly labelled with the party's name, proceeding (including the lead docket number in this case, Docket No. 96-45, type of pleading (comment or reply comment)), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. Each diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. In addition, parties must send copies to the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Pursuant to section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a permit-but-disclose proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted subject to disclosure. For further information, contact Adrian Wright, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418-7400, TTY (202) 418-0484, or via e-mail: awright@fcc.gov. -- Action by Accounting Policy Division --