**DA 05-3156**

**Released: December 8, 2005**

**DOMESTIC SECTION 214 APPLICATION FILED FOR ACQUISITION OF ASSETS OF
CENTURYTEL OF THE SOUTHWEST, INC., BY HOPI TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.**

**STREAMLINED Pleading Cycle Established**

**WC Docket No. 05-334**

**Comments Due: December 22, 2005**

**Reply Comments Due: December 29, 2005**

On November 30, 2005, Hopi Telecommunications, Inc. ("Hopi") and
CenturyTel of the Southwest, Inc. ("CenturyTel") (together
"Applicants"), filed an application, pursuant to section 63.04 of the
Commission's rules,[^1] seeking authority to transfer to Hopi the local
exchange assets of CenturyTel on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and on
a small portion of the Navajo Reservation.[^2]

Applicants seek streamlined treatment for this transaction under
sections 63.03(b)(1)(ii) and (iii) of the Commission's rules because
Hopi is not a telecommunications provider and the proposed transaction
involves only the transfer of local exchange assets of an incumbent LEC
by means other than an acquisition of corporate control.[^3]

CenturyTel, a New Mexico corporation, is wholly owned by CenturyTel of
the Northwest, Inc., which is wholly owned by CenturyTel Holdings, Inc.,
which is wholly owned by CenturyTel, Inc. Century Tel, Inc. is a
publicly traded company, of which no person or entity owns ten percent
or more of the equity.

Hopi, a corporation organized under the laws of the Hopi Tribe, is
wholly owned by the Hopi Tribe, which in turn is controlled by its
members, none of which has a ten percent or more controlling interest.

The Applicant executed an Asset Purchase Agreement for the transfer of
all the assets currently employed by CenturyTel in providing local
exchange telecommunications services. Upon completion of the proposed
transaction, Hopi will become the provider of local exchange
telecommunications service to CenturyTel's current subscribers
throughout Study Area No. 452175. Hopi intends to extend service to any
unserved persons or businesses on the Hopi Reservation.

Applicants state that the proposed transaction serves the public
interest because Hopi will continue to provide local exchange services
after the closing of the proposed transaction without reduction,
impairment, or discontinuance of service to any customer as a result of
this transaction.

**[GENERAL INFORMATION]{.underline}**

The transfer of control identified herein has been found, upon initial
review, to be acceptable for filing as a streamlined application. The
Commission reserves the right to return any transfer of control
application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be
defective and not in conformance with the Commission's rules and
policies. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's
rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file **comments on
or before December 22, 2005** and **reply comments on or before December
29, 2005**.[^4] Unless otherwise notified by the Commission, Applicants
are permitted to transfer the assets and related control on the 31^st^
day after the date of this notice.[^5] Comments may be filed using: (1)
the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the
Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.
*See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings*, 63 FR
24121 (1998).

-   Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the
    Internet by accessing the ECFS: <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/> or
    the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
    [http://www.regulations.gov](http://www.regulations.gov/). Filers
    should follow the instructions provided on the website for
    submitting comments.

-   For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in
    the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one electronic
    copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number referenced
    in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers should
    include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and
    the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit
    an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing
    instructions, filers should send an e-mail to <ecfs@fcc.gov>, and
    include the following words in the body of the message, "get form."
    A sample form and directions will be sent in response.

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-   Paper Filers: 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, filers
    must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
    rulemaking number.

Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236
Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The
filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of [before]{.underline} entering the
building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and
Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington
D.C. 20554.

People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for
people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio
format), send an e-mail to <fcc504@fcc.gov> or call the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

**You may submit comments, identified by the above noted docket number,
by any of the following methods:**

-   Federal eRulemaking Portal:
    [http://www.regulations.gov](http://www.regulations.gov/). Follow
    the instructions for submitting comments.

-   Federal Communications Commission's Web Site:
    <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. Follow the instructions for
    submitting comments.

-   People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable
    accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
    interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: <FCC504@fcc.gov> or phone:
    202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.

**In addition, one copy of each pleading must be sent to each of the
following:**

(1) The Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing,
    Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554,
    [www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/); phone: (202) 488-5300
    fax: (202) 488-5563;

(2) Tracey Wilson-Parker, Competition Policy Division, Wireline
    Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-C212, Washington,
    D.C. 20554; email: <tracey.wilson-parker@fcc.gov>;

(3) Adam Kirschenbaum, Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition
    Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-C211, Washington, D.C. 20554;
    e-mail: <adam.kirschenbaum@fcc.gov>;

(4) Susan O'Connell, Policy Division, International Bureau, 445 12th
    Street, S.W., Room 7-B544, Washington, D.C. 20554; email:
    [susan.o'connell@fcc.gov](mailto:cynthia.bryant@fcc.gov); and

(5) James Bird, Office of General Counsel, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room
    8-C824, Washington, D.C. 20554; e-mail: <james.bird@fcc.gov>.

Filings and comments are also available for public inspection and
copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Information
Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington,
D.C. 20554. They may also be purchased from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street,
S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300,
fax: (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/).

For further information, please contact Tracey Wilson-Parker at (202)
418-1394, or Adam Kirschenbaum at (202) 418-7280.

\- **FCC** -

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[^1]: 47 C.F.R § 63.04; *see* 47 U.S.C. § 214.

[^2]: The CenturyTel service area being transferred includes a few
    subscriber lines on the Navajo Reservation.

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 63.03(b)(1)(ii), (iii).

[^4]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 63.03(a).

[^5]: Such authorization is conditioned upon receipt of any other
    necessary approvals from the Commission in connection with the
    proposed transaction.