**DA 04-3181**

**Released: October 1, 2004**

**WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU GRANTS CONSENT FOR ACQUISITION OF LOCAL
EXCHANGE ASSETS OF IOWA TELECOM BY PARTNER**

**WC Docket No. 04-231**

Pursuant to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,
47 U.S.C. § 214, and sections 0.91, 0.291, and 63.03 of the Commission's
rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.91, 0.291, 63.03, the Wireline Competition Bureau
(Bureau) approves the application for transfer of control of the Baxter,
Melbourne, Rhodes, and State Center exchanges in Iowa from Iowa
Telecommunications Services, Inc. (Iowa Telecom) to Partner
Communications Cooperative (Partner).[^1] No comments were filed in this
proceeding.

The Bureau finds, upon consideration of the record, that the proposed
transfer will serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, and
therefore grants the requested authorization.[^2] Pursuant to section
1.103 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.103, the consent granted
herein is effective upon the release of the Public Notice.[^3] Petitions
for reconsideration under section 1.106 or applications for review under
section 1.115 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.106, 1.115, may
be filed within 30 days of the date of this Public Notice.

For further information, please contact Christi Shewman at (202)
418-1686 in the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition
Bureau.

\- **FCC** -

[^1]: *See* *Domestic Section 214 Application Filed for Transfer of
    Control of the Baxter, Melbourne, Rhodes, and State Center (Iowa)
    Exchanges; Partner Communications Cooperative and Iowa
    Telecommunications Services, Inc., d/b/a Iowa Telecom Seek Waiver of
    the Study Area Boundary Freeze as Codified in Part 36 and Waivers of
    Sections 69.3(e)(11) and 69.605(c) of the Commission's Rules,* WC
    Docket No. 04-231; CC Docket No. 96-45, Public Notice, 19 FCC Rcd
    11512 (2004).

[^2]: *See* *Joint Applications of Global Crossing Ltd., and Citizens
    Communications Company for Authority to Transfer Control of
    Corporations Holding Commission Licenses and Authorizations Pursuant
    to Sections 214 and 310(d) of the Communications Act and Parts 20,
    22, 63, 78, 90, and 101 of the Commission's Rules*, Memorandum
    Opinion and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 8507, 8511-14 (CCB/IB/CSB/WTB 2001)
    (granting transfer of control involving incumbent LECs with adjacent
    exchanges where merger would provide service efficiencies); *Joint
    Applications of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and Chorus
    Communications, Ltd. For Authority to Transfer Control of Commission
    Licenses and Authorizations Pursuant to Sections 214 and 310(d) of
    the Communications Act and Parts 22, 63 and 90 of the Commission's
    Rules*, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 15293, 15296-99
    (CCB/WTB 2001) (authorizing transfer of control involving an
    incumbent LEC and in-region provider of local exchange and exchange
    access services where transaction overall resulted in
    pro-competitive benefits).

[^3]: Action on this domestic section 214 application is without
    prejudice to any action the Commission may take on the pending
    waiver requests that were filed along with this application.