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                                                                                                                         DA 97-19
                           Before the
               Federal Communications Commission
                    Washington, D.C.  20554
                                
                                
In the Application of                        )
                                )
GTE Northwest Incorporated              )         File No. W-P-D-413
                                )
To discontinue service over facilities       )
located in the State of  Washington,         )
pursuant to 47 U.S.C.  214.            )

                      ORDER AND CERTIFICATE


     Adopted: January 17, 1997          Released: January 22, 1997


By the Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau:

1.   On August 13, 1996, GTE Northwest Incorporated filed the above-referenced application
(the "application") pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47
U.S.C.  214, and Part 63 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 63, seeking (1) Commission
authority to discontinue service over certain facilities located in the state of Washington (Ione,
Metaline Falls and Cusick exchanges) and described more fully in the application; and (2) a
waiver of Section 63.505(l) of the Commission's rules (data on toll messages and revenues), 47
C.F.R.  63.505(l).  No comments or oppositions were filed in response to our public notice of
the application published on October 16, 1996.

2.   Having reviewed the application, we find that it complies with the requirements of
Section 214 of the Communications Act and Part 63 of our rules.  Furthermore, for the reasons
stated in the application, we find that the transactions described will not adversely affect the
present or the future public convenience and necessity. 

3.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 0.91 and 0.291 of the
Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.91 and 0.291, that Section  63.505(l) of the Commission's
rules, 47 C.F.R.  63.90, 63.505(l), IS WAIVED and the above-referenced application, File No.
W-P-D-413, IS GRANTED.  GTE Northwest Incorporated IS AUTHORIZED to discontinue
service over the facilities described in this application.

4.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that our grant of this application IS SUBJECT TO THE
CONDITION that GTE Northwest Incorporated receives approval of its Petition for Waiver
(File No. AAD 96-90, filed July 26, 1996) of Section 61.41(c)(2) of the Commission's rules, 47
C.F.R.  61.41(c)(2), and the Definition of "Study Area" contained in Part 36 of the
Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. Part 36, before it discontinues service over these facilities.

5.   This Order and Certificate IS EFFECTIVE upon release.  Failure of the applicant to
decline the authorization in writing within thirty-one days from the release date will be construed
as formal acceptance.


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



Geraldine A. Matise, Chief
Network Services Division
Common Carrier Bureau