**DA 07-1571**

**THE WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON A PETITION BY
NORTHWEST MISSOURI CELLULAR LIMTED PARTNERSHIP TO REDEFINE THE STUDY
AREAS OF THREE RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES IN MISSOURI**

**CC Docket No. 96-45**

**Release Date: April 2, 2007**

**Comment Date: April 16, 2007**

**Reply Comment Date: April 23, 2007**

The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on a petition
filed by Northwest Missouri Cellular Limited Partnership pursuant to
section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 54.207, requesting
the Commission's agreement with the decision of the Missouri Public
Service Commission (MPSC) to redefine the study areas of three rural
telephone companies at the wire center level.[^1]

Section 54.207 of the Commission's rules, which implements section
214(e)(5) of the Communications Act of 1934 (Act), as amended, provides
that a rural telephone company's service area will be its study area
"unless and until the Commission and the states, after taking into
account the recommendations of a Federal-State Joint Board instituted
under section 410(c) of the Act, establish a different definition of
service area for such company."[^2]

The Bureau issues this Public Notice as required by section 54.207(c)(2)
of the Commission's rules.[^3] If the Commission initiates a proceeding
to consider the Petition*,* it must do so within 90 days of the release
date of this Public Notice, pursuant to our rules.[^4] If the Commission
does not act on the Petition by **July 2, 2007**, the definition
proposed by the MPSC will be deemed approved by the Commission and shall
take effect in accordance with state procedures.[^5]

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 **April 16, 2007**, and reply comments on or before **April 23,
2007.** All pleadings are to reference **CC Docket No. 96-45**. 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.[^6]

-   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.

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   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) Vickie Robinson, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline
    Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5-B550, Washington,
    D.C. 20554; e-mail: <vickie.robinson@fcc.gov>; and

(3) David Duarte, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline
    Competition Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 5B-441, Washington,
    D.C. 20554; e-mail: <david.duarte@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 CYB402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone: (202) 488-5300,
fax: (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail
[www.bcpiweb.com](http://www.bcpiweb.com/).

This matter shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in
accordance with the Commission's *ex parte* rules.[^7] Persons making
oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the
presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the
presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More
than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments
presented generally is required.[^8] Other rules pertaining to oral and
written *ex parte* presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are
set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.[^9]

For further information, please contact Vickie Robinson,
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau
at (202) 418-7400 or TTY (202) 418-0484.

[^1]: *See* Northwest Missouri Cellular Limited Partnership Petition for
    FCC Agreement to Redefine the Study Area of Three Rural Telephone
    Companies in Missouri, CC Docket No. 96-45, (filed March 19, 2007).

[^2]: 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(b); *see also* 47 U.S.C. § 410(c).

[^3]: 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(c)(2).

[^4]: 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(c)(3).

[^5]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(c)(3)(ii). The Commission delegated its
    authority to act on petitions to redefine rural service areas to the
    Chief of the Wireline Competition Bureau. 47 C.F.R. § 54.207(e).

[^6]: *See* Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63
    Fed. Reg. 2412 (1998).

[^7]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 *et seq*.

[^8]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2).

[^9]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).