October 18, 2005

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today granted one license, two temporary licenses and one amended license to provide basic local exchange service.

In Case No. U-14540, Votatel was granted a license to provide basic local exchange service in the areas currently served by SBC Michigan, Verizon North Inc., Verizon North Systems, CenturyTel of Michigan, Inc., CenturyTel Midwest-Michigan Inc., CenturyTel of Upper Michigan, Inc., CenturyTel of Northern Michigan, Inc., Island Telephone Company, Shiawassee Telephone Company, Chatham Telephone Company, Wolverine Telephone Company, Communications Corporation and Frontier Communications of Michigan, Inc.

The company, headquartered in Batavia, Ohio, applied for a license on March 31.

In Case No. U-14634, Vilaire Communications was granted a temporary license to provide basic local exchange service in the areas currently served by SBC Michigan, Verizon North Inc. and Verizon North Systems.

The company, headquartered in Lakewood, Wash., applied for a license on September 14.  It also requested a temporary license.

In Case No. U-14475, Phone Express Michigan Inc. was granted a temporary license to provide basic local exchange service in the exchanges currently served by SBC Michigan, Verizon North Inc. and Verizon North Systems.

The company, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, applied for a license on Aug. 15.  It also requested a temporary license.

In Case No. U-14607, Buckeye TeleSystem, Inc. was granted an amended license to alter the geographic service area of its license to include the service areas consisting of portions of Bedford, Erie, Ida, Summerfield and Whiteford Townships in Monroe County and a portion of Riga Township in Lenawee County.

The company, headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, applied for an amended license on Aug. 1.

The Commission approved the licenses because it determined that the companies possess sufficient technical, financial and managerial resources and abilities to provide basic local telephone service within the geographic area of the licenses.  The Commission concluded that competition for telephone service is advantageous to Michigan residents.  By granting these requests for licenses, opportunities for competition may expand.

The Commission conditioned the licenses on compliance with the Commission’s anti-slamming procedures, the number portability provisions of the Michigan Telecommunications Act, and the Commission’s number reclamation process.  The Commission also conditioned the licenses upon the companies providing service to customers within a reasonable time, indicating that a failure to comply may result in revocation of their license or other penalties.  Further, the Commission noted that any numbers obtained by the companies are a public resource and are not owned by the companies.  Therefore, if the companies fail to provide service or go out of business, any numbers assigned are subject to reclamation.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Cases Nos. U-14540, U-14634, U-14475 and U-14607