:b tk* f $d#$

BEFORE THE SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC LJTlEITfES C:O%l5lf5SlC$%

%% P TJIP: 31,4%'%-ER OF THE REQUEST OF W-ZiYTER,Y I'Ef*EPHblNE COMPANY FOR CEWTIFfCAT86N f%%lU:i

g?gs .g&j&$,li: Sq-qTtart, ar.tEf safc;ly valve support). Support provided

be made available if the State

jTti.rsiitaart 6 0 5 $54 3 14

t. federal universzl service support

due to be filed with the FCC and

n1a.y be presented to these entities in the

"Pire fetter rwst iclet~tify which carriers in the State

r~~onth period and must certify that the

~ $ 1 - 4 $kg ~:~pgmc$ far the prcavisi;ion, maintenance, and upgading of

- % ?.-, - T - ~ - c ~ X C : rs.rzQ4iysfutle ~-atnpa:.rg that has previously been designated by this

acrricr 'Ttic Company provides local exchange

a i ..if I!@ qwirntiiil services thzt are included in the federal

1 129 access lin~es within its established rural -.---

j k ,I 4 r . ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ i a t ~ : f ~ j + ~ B P T ~ X ~ X ~ . rej~irfaaon, oversight over Western and its provisioning

B tidre8 3f26 i $ -1'j-,? 1-15 1, the local exchange service rates charged

- x~$Geg,ia:"it4+, 1tttf~lctl3al tefcphone systems, and ~ndependent telephone

; 7 - 1 2 t $ 9 r : 5Zt: thr;akrb,%atcj Iaval euci-lange subscribers are nor subject to the

trr cases where State Commissions have limited regulatory

Tra;~ :indica$ed that these carriers should themselves initiate

ensure compliance with the requirement in 47

---- ,-pa 4 a :- ' 4 - e a : iRk%-zI h * ~ 4 * l , ? %*-~~~~1gl~11Ir_l-,Rgprt and Order. Tnenh. Secorrd Order on

- ~rn - r ,A~ -r ,z= s 3,; * ?-A:&+.* %*$",i+c .?$ f++qp!$$ yY&!4:fj1;i,4rn&jj~ f C Clmkct NO 96-15. and Remrl and O~dcr m CC

k; g- t 25Sfek rlt& uflluersaf service support will only be used for the previsiars. ra%roi;zztLrfge-

~ G ~ * L $ - a L ~ b : t ~ t 5 : ~ ~ Z ~ t7 f ' fi i7igetittl~~ and services for which the support is intended Based ttta ~ b l r % Gh:d

;-:-,:I :J -i ,~tettgajaa~cd that the State Commission may make the appropriate cefittIca~r~:~~i ~ $ 3 4 ~

g2& , .

! trc pzacpuse af this filing is to provide information constituting tVcsfer't"tns plan

-., G: s.=.i 4 i h fe~3tf~F rrnivcrsal service support and to otherwise verif\/ that Wc$t&fz% ~ Z ~ ! S ~ J ~ P ~ F J ~ -

3 -wpg;a+j i f S t if11 fcberal universal service support received in a mztnnzr that bz cr~gl%.szfsi.

q * d ? i-k fct!erBi! kiriivcr~al senfice provisions of 47 U S C 5 254.

il- Eur pr'crcess of determining whether federal universai service sk~pfre'btt leu U ~ E ~ BQ s

i 3 : ; i w w : ; i t t~h : j i t tn t with the Federal Communications Act- the '"~lnivcrsat semis< ;~rs~xipJc:k~~

= irr Section 254(b) are instructive. That Section states thar. a f a ~ fK'gw k~~l~%&'

$:e"~~","tt-h$r lhc prctiervation and advancement of universal senrice':@'' an t-ef-snr~, L;ZY&G:~~~~.J.!J~

4 T 'a SJuaIisy scrvices should be available at just, reasonable, and aExfda&ttr %&il,@s

I:! 4r:crrss ro advanced telecommunications and information scrxiecs sific~~rE$ QIC prw iizlcd irn a11 regions of the Nation.

r 3) I'ifnsurtt~~~er~ in all regions of the Nation, including Irrtv-iocomc 8:tlnsutnen nr%$ I ~ I ~ S S Y I11 rural, insular, and high-cost areas, should haw s t i i tr;iecva.tarr~u~~ications and information services, including intcrexchac~gl: %i% i g ~ r , t td abvarzced telecommunications and information services, rbaa ;ire seastranib!~s, 6:tsn1p;irablc to those services provided in urban areas and thad arc a~,ziPabbe ;te raraz: titat: are reasonably comparable to rates charged for slnziiar 3;t'rviees it2 g i f f ~ i m BF%W+

ta$j 9:icmentary and secondary schools and classrooms. healtit cztrc p~f~iifidfs* &s?ci lihn-nries shauld have access to [certain] advanced telecommunicarit %efticg++

~ $ y k c f - ~ a ,@-Qfi. FCC 0 I - 157. Rclased May 23. 200 1 ?ci;l~&%rhJk Repxi txi~d Order. 7 188

B%t? #.C:"C' d~ciitled to dictate specifically how the states should ensur- rhao C ~ : F I P ~ ~

e; a* i8i;~~: 31-isf .L* ,-;a! CV, ~tt?tversnl service support consistent with the federal law, but, has ~ f ' f ~ i ~ i $

~-*xi*.csi%~ i~f %:ti:% the nipport can be used to appropriately hrther universal service g ~ a i s ?'lax:

$.%.I s%&r artatd [use the Federal support to] adjust intrastate rzttes, or crtt~crwise 7$z~cc2 C Z ~ ~ P I C ~ ~ S to use the federal support to replace implicit intrastate univermI +dz*r.iei. it4ippnn to high cost rural areas . . . . .S &rc ::rair\d nlso require carriers to use the federal support to upgrade fz";sik.ibif

l:* Fix sakttnut,?-r year 2002, Western intends to make the following netlivark Et'cifiq zrjsd

: : Sit prcx~!difng local exchange telecommunications services. iOtes!ef~x t'iiil a$t;o FRCXJF

.* rzc:+ . ,;."'air 2k?li12v t t t c ~ e costs will include

I .f 51-Ychfcm Ptgfe~~hn~le ('onzj~my estimates that the total costs dcscsibed a t m e ~n,:S&rafry

5.; ; r . ~ ~ I , S E + W ~ T ' I ~ I ~ C T S T F ; f~c i l i t y and equipment investments and other expenses to be i ~ ~ i i ~ ~ e d k i t r

,;:"~+.iw&~~; ts,,%~d csdltarrge telecommunications services will exceed $ -.-- 775,600 -- p* - - -.

3 7 f"c~~rs/starxt with the universal service principles set forth in the federarf Bakb a i ~ a : ~ - ' s, .-

!FS$~ j~=i+.tiiifk X't, i B T P C ~ C ~ S referenced herein, Western will use federal universat service ,i5ftr~tbztt%

l i-i6' .,d*ni PwL in 2161%2 {estin~ated in paragraph 9 herein) to offset a portion of thssc ~zrmf L:~I%o~ %&I=,

", .+&% p 3 -* fv:.fef41 i&nivrrsal service support will enable Western to- ( I maintain r'atcl; f3r i b t d r 4 1 j

q k -+ ~4 > r , + ? t , ~ ,?- &,& a %t:r~ ices that are affordable and reasonably comparable to rates Atring cfr&rgj:d f i y ~ S,!W

. > ~ F ~ Z O + *.a'.ir~g4 in urban arcas, and (2) to upgrade its telecornmunicaiions %ciIilic$ ;land @d$~;2g%f!1rr$t

3% 3 ~ e e : ~ ~ i ~ ~ so meer evolving service requirements and maintain high quatit:; xri".6~4;+ *i-fe X.P,$:

1. %baa? tiilii+~!+.a! senice support for these purposes is clearly cuns"i.sicil.it y++f~ iS"r:vt$

- '," - -- *---"-- --

_ _ ->=$ -- *nr?ls Gcrt;t"~~tinm under 47USC Section 254(e) for these amounts. Sce 14th iary~slrli am! C&&J~ @ ~ % e d ~ ~ . i ~ ~ f e i x - r 4 &-.

. F F+d7~c -2 .I:& 73%' thp 'i*zrq;ii.tlrtg trrfort1711t !on and also the Affidavit of Harold A Brown;

a . :,.?-.,$ ,&l; f 5 % r l r i * t f a- %, &'esEern ?'tll~?[.'t70~?~< Tr~m/mi?). requests that this Commission

A - - - . %- .-A*' :CE: zppiitfg\ts;~4~ k%"ftitfi9iiti

EXHIBIT ,4

AFFIDAVIT

1 3 ,as%wcrraad t-atrpt~rate offilcer of Western T~.iephorre l i z ~ ~ ~ p c ~ r y , I, Harold A. Bmwn

:&r.:r:,abz%a wifh atld an understanding of the requirements of the Federaf

3 $=%>,- , ." , +!&:,%"+*t %$;r t'd E43141 4% amended by the Telecommutiications Act of I996 with respect

- e;5 ST:'^ . l i t5 fk!ki~ii uf:ic:crsal service finds received as high-cost loop support, local , .i-...l . 4 =l..a~ - r9.eyll,vs~++ -, .~ita'ks n a %tfditi.i.e support, andlor safety valve support and hereby affirm $!rat

pl -' - ,ih S? i-.,ClJ,,89. *hSe7 i. 1w~t~t~i79.4( ~'t~cei%-ccI by Western Telephone Cornpariy will be used only for tlie

,,,t

.-,I",* , , > - a-S" "A,k,=~l:.- v ~ + +fqr \ ~ - i j + ~ ~ k ; , ,E % % k~;t1c,, q)g~~f.adil~g OF facilities and services for which the support is in renw

L ~ ~ - ~ ~ ii- =* ?,* G~ 5r 1 zs z 3 ~ f ' 2 25.rfo)

-a I "I . , .- -; r-. s . 7h.fi-c,F31id " I % ~ ~ r i * ~ i t b b ~ f i ~ r e r l l ~ this / ? day ofAugust, 2001

JARViS W. BROiVN SEAL ROTARY PUBLIC SEAL

SOUTH DMOTA

$c;axsth Oakoh Public Utilities Cammission WEEKLY F! LINGS

F@h $%w P%"srilrad 09 August 8,2801 through August 75,2004

- l i - ~ $ 3 5 id &g@%pB&%e eapy R1Q 1 filing faxed, overnight expressed, or mailed to you, please carttact %7w$~;d~-% %y?;x+s wbBkr,m .s_ifiv& b t t ~ i f l a ~ ~ days of this filing. Phone: 605-773-3705 Fax: 605-773-3809

- -- ti+. 4 9 ; ... x , L . , f %? Zh@ i&*~Bt%s~ 86 fh@ Camplaint filed by Calvin L. Plienis, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, against fiiwet 6nz Caru%.holag Dfstanca Regarding Unauthorized BiEling for Services.

F - 41~Pz:~v :*ST Dlr~c : Qi7e Cam Long Distance charged his credit card for unauthorrzed servlce ,= +.&% 4 8, U--%$*

&,--a p ; .. ?., - r g ~ % %&c %&E@t &f bar@ Application of Viitcom Corp~mfion for a Certificate of Authority to

~ t " ~ r j c ; @ @ L&kat Enetrangc Sarvicas in South Dakota.

&,+. it" z - -* ", ?A - -& , * .L:$$trsvt~,,xt~~~ fa-" o cartrflcate of authority to provide resold and facilities based local *I-=,.& T@ -: ,il$ ~ G P ~ ~ Y : Ga~;b:a Applicant does not propose to offer services in rural areas but to the extent

.@:J*;: *.'- iL2+i c.$+ %Y $7 ~sr*-:,p.&rz.gg m?ric:r or carnp~titrve local exchange carrier in South Dakota IS granted a smaii or r-a3_d a-f %-%-$'-KT ~;&J&GA?I I $0 Secttart 251(f) of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 3996 in the future, A *F ';;"',-F' F~~ :89k ~ ~ i f ~ ~ ~ , ? t % ED uper3tE trn such servlce area(s) as well.

*. ,ria &,# ,., - a f i TP& #&BBP ah tkt? Weqhlmf BS Beresf~3rd Municipal Telephone Company for Certification Q@g@j.dhft~ la kl)%@ a? F@d@raI Universal Sewice Support.

8 " ;*- ); G-*p~i5& ;-at p-*2 %:-fig 15 53 praplld~ rrtformation constitutlng Beresford Municipal Telephone Company's plan far .,.$a ;:: ?& TQQ@~~& L t:*

,- R,*ie?t~zti %@WIG~ srippart and to otherwise verify that Beresford Municipal Telephone

'- .x%~zeis. %%r" -A%+ BF- %e$@j~$r~&f a;t~:ivet,r%3l Servtce support received in a manner that is consistent with the federai is>,-.&^&'& 14s44L~d& ;i$f;%v,%io:$% fif 87 1) $ C Staction 254

4 (:$i~ P$& 1 4 ~ tpx@ Afa?B%r of the Request of JeRerson Telephone Company for Certification Regarding %% Uw aF F@d@r;rel U~sive~atl Service Support.

" * i ~ %,.(r$ya:l%~ ;.if TPP-l %it;:f"l$j r l 10 prsvrde tnformatlon constituting Jefferson Telephone Co.'s plan for the use of rts %.iv~+ b:$$'~ .s&i ~kj.iF~:x~ B C I P P Q ~ ~ and to otherwise verify that Jefferson Telephone Co. will use all federai ~ f n i v ~ i s ~ ~ ! u &. -bxtUw = *- - -, %.ti: iirXT ;;-~iv@t I i ~ b B manner that IS consistent with the federal universal service provisions af 47 tt S C. :':-*J +a'> r " i; 2 *'-4","'" $. 4%

*kJ& -5 Gs%.% at4i the M;ek#sftar at tt'is Request of Valley Teieeornmunications Cooperative Association, fnc, $GC G ~ ~ i W ~ g f i o n Ragardlng its Use of Federal Universal Sewice Support.

- 2 % ~ qnb+priee q3 I+J-$ ?.ding t$ Y~(B provide inforrnatlan constituting Vailey Telecommunications Coaperative Assn , - ..K r r ;&$-. ~ ~ f t 31 IS federal universal service support and to otherwise verify that Valley - + W e . v ~ ; c ; r *r + q e - % ~ dl - -a9xl+r /Aj~-~l.s Zsail3p~mtivt~~ Assn., Inc. will use all federal universal service support received in a manner s;@ -6 ,&~v%y~:%:! %ki';$.~i me federal universal service provisions of 47 U.S.C. Section 254.

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTBLCTIES CQMMfSSJDM OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

iH THE MATTER OF THE REQUEST OF ORDER GRAN"f3NG &$fES"E'ER TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR ) C %RftfG.'iCAT#QN CEWT#FICATIQN REGARDING ITS USE OF 1 FEDERAL UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT 1 TCO? =%I-$

On May 23, 2001, the Federal C~mmunications Commrssr~t-t {FGCg r42f~~fie+$ Drf 0:lier concerning the federal universal service support ~echanism issr rirra! -,anierfr ' "i"1:~~ Ordar (hareafter referenced as the "Fourteenth Report and Ordaf"'), r t l pal? c ~ ~ Q s F : ~ ? F 2%: f 4 C F R. 54 314, a requirement for States to provide a certrticshan xegaaf:u%;# .-+ f ~ ~ 7 7 ~ $ i i.ff;arvcrsai service support that is received by rural incuinbent lacat exg&zrq?@ .. ::~f**:gi~% zjndtor etrgible telecommun~catiens carriers providing service iw rumt ~ ~ 3 f ~ a i z . f ~ 3 r 9 ~ 4 ~ Pursuant to suc1-1 rule, a state that desires rural carriers withtn rZS ju,tri$d~cBc&% :Q ~ 3 ~ ~ 4 2 2 ~ ~ - fasttjrs federal universal service support must file an annual certrfic~ban tt.%? t";8e FCC q.:;,:!, Yh@ Unrversal Service Administrative Company (USAC) slaarng ih~tr f4x%~ai k.qh JT,~:; siipport provided to such carriers within that State will be used on6y ~ Q F t%$~ gfir~e$i.~rl %arr?t,enence, and upgrading of facilities and services for ~tc'Ft"lt@h %e,@ga~rt 1~ r~2f4;fi"+~ Tlis cert~licai~on requirement applies to various categories O! fE&~f8$ tg?:~~,,:~~t:. P,F~ at $%tipport, rncluding support provided pursuant to 47 C F $24 $5 5#2 330: $,-& J";35 i3ifb2.:$fi 54 307, arldlor 47 C.F R. Part 36, Subpart F (high-cask tssp s ~ p p w t 1 ~ ~ 8 ~ ~'+T~:~:P"-+L~~ support, safety net additive support, and safety valve supgat"$) :&~ppz-$ ~~$:L~:&>:,% ,t3~:%l~~ I b e % ~ FCC, rule provlslons will only be made ava~lable In the f~tusa & 9#!@ 9t~;r;' $~&3'::~:r>.% 7;'- :;Sas the requis~te certification pursuant to § 54 344

The cert~fication requlred for r l~ral carriers to receavs 8edef~B k x ~ ' t i r " @ i $ i ~ + ~ ~ ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ti?. st1 four quarters during calendar year 2001 IS currefiffy d u ~ tg t~ k ~ l j f i .igLC, g,+.-jl USA@ an or before October 1. 2001. The certifimtian may $e p r e ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ :a mi$J~@ ~ J ~ X ~ X . L F ~ in the forrn of a letter from the State Commlssron The reia@r ETL.@ a$d~~:rd~ g ' i ~ ~ z f ~ s

$w-wm s~lppofl received in a manner that is consistent with idle f ~ a ~ r e l ~92~&;,!5; ax- it3 ST.--%$ , .' "- ~ h 0 ~ 1 a r t l f l s of 47 U S C €j 254 As a part of rts plan, Company Sistsd ~sht~?a ' ,~z CP jW@ e r t s f 2 & m rt expected to receive from USAC as weti as its estrmater', co~!s idCiztl%

s* 8 -,7"*-%25#m *-,J,L* >k *?; 1,- $?."D~i%i!2t tnaifttenance, and upgrading of facilities and services kn A:i'idavrd i3;as al--

4,$ OIZE f$$dciakest for Csrtificaf,~on

Orr Atrgtrst 18. 2001, the Commission electron~cally transmitted nba!,i~@ a: $12 ti:?':;; =$*'ir> BFW ~ i r i t ~ r ~ ~ n ' i i a n deadl~ne of August 24, 2001, to interested indtvsdt~als am! ~ - b f t ~ ? ~ c E $," , SJ, . :??5"i"az~, $ought intervent~on

t t ~ regularly scheduled meeting of September 7, 2001, ths C " , ~ W ~ ~ : $ $ ~ J ? T .f:isw:~:-,$&t$?gj this matter

The Z:smn?lssron has ~urisdiction over this matter pursuant ts SDCL E",bapser% k d 4 4%~a - .A;!-! awa 47 tJ S.C l i j 254 The Crsmmission found that the Company $3 ;:Pg,k:~ :;:, :a: r.l;;rt+ fe2:le~al support as it states it will only use the support far $h@ p?~i~~::w* s--et?:'rfcnar.;c.e and upgrading of facilities and services for which the sugp~r$ is :i"'te~.~~i.~~!::

Y - ~ . t s t w - {7t~:zr~snrss~en ~inan~mously voted to approve Company's Requt?st %G: $~t%:ttfif:ls;ri$-~ &"iii~;2;ri~ng Ils Use of Federal Un~versal Service Support It ts tks@rebara

Of%DERED, that the Company is el~gible to receive federal stjppo:~ as F: $ 4 , , % $ $ ~ ~ 11 I il;i~:y me tlrre suppart for the provision, ma~ntenance. and upgradtng a! ":c:d+8a*z% ,zi"~.:: %fifrl:ice% far whleh the support is intended. it IS

Ft.fRTHER ORDERED, that the Commlss~on approves f",.;:rmp3*$"s %?:~i i f~$ g+tS g-it:°i!r$i c+a!;c~r~ Regard ing Its Use of Federal Universal Service Suppof!

~ Qa~ecf at Pierre, South Dakota, this -76 -' day of S e p t ~ ~ l b e r , 230?

ij 3

GEWTlFlCAYE OF SERVICE I ,# " h i uders,gned nereby cemfies that thts j; 9i~~~l;i*er%? YdS treen sewed today upon all parbes of 4, s -em :": 3". :*:5 scisket as lrsled on the docket sewtce $

9 fj* fa: ?i:vllt: or by frrsr class marl In praperly - . 4 &zkr&s@:t G:!.&Eiqtes, &!th charges prepad thereon 2 , , I .

, , [A,. F ." j.

- . ;. :'+:.-F i: $:;S&,rg, 5fi:i Ewt Capri01 Avenue, Pierre, South Dakotz 5750i -5076

51% i