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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  04-  256 
 STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS, 
 CONCURRING 
 Re:  GTE  Hawaiian  Telephone  Company,  Inc.  Application  for  Review  of  a  Decision  by  the  Common  Carrier  Bureau,  Sandwich  Isles  Communications,  Inc.  Petition  for 
 Waiver  of  Section  36.611  of  the  Commissions  Rules  and  Request  for  Clarification  (AAD  97-  82) 


 In  1998,  the  Common  Carrier  Bureau  concluded  that  for  regulatory  purposes  it  would  treat  Sandwich  Isles  Communications  service  territory  as  a  study  area.  Shortly  after  the  Bureau  released  its  decision,  GTE 
 Hawaiian  Telephone  Company  filed  an  application  for  review  by  the  full  Commission,  contending  that  the  service  area  at  issue  was  within  its  serving  territory.  Incomprehensibly,  this  dispute  has  sat  in  front  of 
 the  Commission  for  six  years.  I  support  todays  decision.  But  I  limit  my  support  to  concurring  because  fairness  requires  that  we  resolve  issues  involving  support  for  unserved  areas  and  disputed  territory  with 
 greater  speed  than  we  attempt  to  do  here.  I  can  only  hope  that  a  fuller  record  in  a  subsequent  study  area  waiver  proceeding  will  bring  an  equitable  solution  for  all. 
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