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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

445 12th STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 **DA 00-1827**

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

**CITIZENS TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY OF IDAHO AND QWEST CORPORATION
SEEK A WAIVER OF THE DEFINITION OF \"STUDY AREA\" IN PART 36 OF THE
COMMISSION\'S RULES**

**PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED**

#  CC Docket No. 96-45

**Release Date: August 10, 2000**

**Comment Date: August 24, 2000**

**Reply Comment Date: September 5, 2000**

On July 11, 2000, Citizens Telecommunications Company of Idaho
(Citizens) and Qwest Corporation (Qwest) 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. Citizens is acquiring from Qwest approximately
10,000 access lines in Washington that are served by a Qwest central
office located in Idaho. By this waiver, Qwest seeks to alter its
Washington study area in order to remove the lines being transferred to
Citizens. Citizens seeks a waiver of the study area freeze to combine
these lines with the Idaho study area it is acquiring from Qwest.[^1]
The petitioners submitted an order from the Washington Utilities and
Transportation Commission indicating that it has no objection to the
issuance of a study area waiver associated with Citizens' acquisition of
the 10,000 access lines.

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 **August 24, 2000**, and reply comments on or before **September
5, 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.

[^1]: Citizens is in the process of purchasing eight Idaho exchanges
    from Qwest, which comprise a complete study area in Idaho. In
    addition, Citizens currently provides service to 18 exchanges in
    Idaho, which comprise a separate study area. Citizens intends to
    maintain separate study areas in Idaho for the acquired Qwest
    exchanges and the current Citizens' exchanges.