PUBLIC NOTICE![](media/image1.png){width="0.95in"
height="0.9055555555555556in"}

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

445 12th STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 **DA 00-1014**

News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet:
http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov

**CENTURYTEL OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN, LLC AND GTE NORTH INC. SEEK WAIVER OF
THE DEFINITION OF \"STUDY AREA\" IN PART 36 OF THE COMMISSION\'S RULES
AND SECTIONS 61.41(C) AND 69.3(E)(9) OF THE COMMISSION'S PRICE CAP
RULES**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED**

#  CC Docket No. 96-45

**Release Date: May 8, 2000**

**Comment Date: May 30, 2000**

**Reply Comment Date: June 9, 2000**

On April 25, 2000, CenturyTel of Central Wisconsin (CenturyTel) and GTE
North Incorporated (GTE) filed a joint petition for waiver of the
definition of \"study area\" as set forth in Part 36 of the
Commission\'s rules. That definition constitutes a rule freezing all
study area boundaries. The requested waivers would allow GTE to alter
the boundaries of its existing Wisconsin study area and allow CenturyTel
to establish a single new study area when transferring 42 local
telephone exchanges (64,798 access lines) from GTE to CenturyTel.
Petitioners submitted a letter from the Wisconsin Public Service
Commission indicating that it has no objection to the issuance of a
study area waiver associated with CenturyTel\'s acquisition of the 42
telephone exchanges from GTE.

CenturyTel also seeks waiver of section 61.41(c) of the Commission\'s
price cap rules, 47 C.F.R. § 61.41, to exempt it from the price cap
\"all or nothing\" rule. Section 61.41(c) requires non-price cap
companies, and the telephone companies with which they are affiliated,
to become subject to price cap regulation after acquiring a price cap
company or any part thereof. The requested waiver would permit
CenturyTel to operating under rate-of-return regulation after acquiring
the GTE exchanges that are currently under price cap regulation. In
addition, CenturyTel seeks waiver of section 69.3(e)(9), 47 C.F.R. §
69.3(e)(9), to return the purchased access lines to the National
Exchange Carrier Association's common line pool after acquiring them
from GTE.

Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission\'s rules, 47
C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or
before **May 30, 2000**, and reply comments on or before **June 9,
2000**. Comments may be filed using the Commission\'s Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. *See Electronic Filing
of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings*, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998).
Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via
the Internet to \<http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html\>. Generally, only
one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket
or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however,
commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each
docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the
transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal
Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number.
Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To
receive filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send
an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the
body of the message, \"get form \<your e-mail address.\" A sample form
and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by
paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than
one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this
proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each
additional docket or rulemaking number. All filings must be sent to the
Commission\'s Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20554.

Parties also must send three paper copies of their filing to Sheryl
Todd, Accounting Policy Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street S.W., Room 5-B540,
Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, commenters must send diskette
copies to the Commission\'s copy contractor, International Transcription
Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037.

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.