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                            Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554

                                )
In the Matter of                )
                                )
Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc.)
CTC Telcom, Inc.                )
                                )  CC Docket No. 97-219
Petition for Preemption Pursuant to Section)
253 of the Communications Act of )
Discriminatory Ordinances,      )
Fees and Right-of-Way Practices of the City)
of Rice Lake, Wisconsin         )
                                )
 

                             ORDER


   Adopted:  December 18, 1997          Released:  December 19, 1997  

By the Acting Chief, Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau

     1.  On October 10, 1997, Chibardun Telephone Cooperative, Inc., and CTC Telcom, Inc.
(collectively, Chibardun) filed a petition for preemption pursuant to section 253 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Petition).  In a Public Notice released October 20,
1997, the Commission established a pleading cycle for comments on the Chibardun Petition. 
Specifically, the Commission directed interested parties to file comments by November 19, 1997,
and reply comments by December 8, 1997.  In an order released November 17, 1997, the
Commission, at the request of the City of Rice Lake, Wisconsin (the City) extended the deadline
for comments and reply comments until December 3, 1997 and December 22, 1997,
respectively.

     2.  In a pleading filed December 17, 1997, Chibardun requests that the deadline for reply
comments be extended until January 6, 1998.  Chibardun states that grant of the City's extension
request has pushed Chibardun's reply period back into the pre-Christmas and year-end periods. 
As a consequence, Chibardun states that entities whose information or assistance it needs to
complete its reply comments have been short-staffed and very busy during the last two weeks. 
Chibardun adds that it expects to continue encountering many of the same problems until after
New Year's week.  Chibardun states that it has contacted counsel for the City and for GTE
Service Corporation (GTE) regarding this extension request.  Counsel for GTE has consented to
the extension of time.  Counsel for the City has advised Chibardun's counsel that the City does
not intend to take a position on the request for extension.

     3.  We do not routinely grant extensions of time.  However, we are sympathetic to the
problems Chibardun is encountering in obtaining information at this time of year when many
offices are short-staffed.  Additionally, given the importance and complexity of the issues raised
in this proceeding, we want to ensure that there is a full and complete record before the
Commission.  Finally, we do not believe that a grant of this extension will harm the public
interest by materially delaying Commission consideration of the Petition.

     4.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the motion for extension of time filed by
Chibardun IS GRANTED.  Accordingly, reply comments must be filed on or before January 6,
1997.  All other requirements and procedures established in the Commission's October 20, 1997
Public Notice concerning the Chibardun Petition remain in effect.

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              Carol E. Mattey
                              Acting Chief
                              Policy and Program Planning Division
                              Common Carrier Bureau