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HomeMy WebLinkAbout103-12 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 103-12 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE APPLICATION OF WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND TO APPROVE THE NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. WHEREAS, the City Council enacted §110.02 Telecommunication Franchises a year ago to accommodate the entry into Fayetteville of telecommunication companies to serve our citizens, businesses, and/or institutions; and WHEREAS, Windstream Communications, Inc. desires to serve the University of Arkansas Medical Science institution from the University of Arkansas Research and Technology Park's hub site with fiber optic connections to many other Arkansas institutions for distance learning medical consultation, etc. funded by a grant from the National Telecommunications Information Administration; and WHEREAS, Windstream Communications, Inc. also wishes to serve retail consumers of telecommunication services within Fayetteville. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves the application of Windstream Communications, Inc. to provide telecommunications services within Fayetteville and approves the Non -Exclusive Telecommunications Franchise Agreement with Windstream Communications, Inc. authorizing its use of the City's rights-of-way and public utility easements for the stated franchise fee. PASSED and APPROVED this 15th day of May, 2012. APPROVED: ATTEST: B NELD . 1 ' ! AN, Mayor By: SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer AGENDA REQUEST FOR: COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 15, 2012 FROM: KIT WILLIAMS, CITY ATTORNEY ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION TITLE AND SUBJECT: A Resolution To Approve The Telecommunications Franchise Application Of Windstream Communications, Inc. And To Approve The Non -Exclusive Telecommunications Franchise Agreement With Windstream Communications, Inc. APPROVED FOR AGENDA: '�--� 5- 2 — __1 City Attorney Date Chief of taff S; -/?-- Date cola Date 05-32-12P01:34 RCVD •I ave evl_ a Departmental Correspondence ARKANSAS www.accessfayetteville.org LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO: Mayor Jordan City Council CC: Don Marr, Chief of Staff Chris Brown, City Engineer Terry Gulley, Transportation Services Director FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney DATE: May 3, 2012 RE• Telecommunications Agreement with Windstream Communications, Inc Kit Williams City Attorney Jason B. Kelley Assistant City Attorney Windstream Communications, Inc. needs to obtain a Telecommunications Franchise Agreement in order to provide fiber optic telecommunication services to the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences institution in Fayetteville. This provision of new broadband services in Arkansas for UAMS is funded by a $102 million grant from the National Telecommunication Information Administration of the Department of Commerce to support a $128 million broadband infrastructure that will serve community institutions across Arkansas Windstream will also provide some retail telecommunications services to businesses or persons in Fayetteville for which it should be assessed the same 4% franchise fee paid by AT&T and the Prairie Grove Telephone Company. The proposed Non -Exclusive Telecommunications Franchise Agreement is authorized by §110.02 Telecommunication Franchises of the Fayetteville Code which you passed a year ago. Representatives of Windstream Communications, Inc. should be at your City Council meeting and probably also at your Agenda Session to explain their proposed project and their request for a Franchise Agreement. RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE APPLICATION OF WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND TO APPROVE THE NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. WHEREAS, the City Council enacted §110.02 Telecommunication Franchises a year ago to accommodate the entry into Fayetteville of telecommunication companies to serve our citizens, businesses, and/or institutions; and WHEREAS, Windstream Communications, Inc. desires to serve the University of Arkansas Medical Science institution from the University of Arkansas Research and Technology Park's hub site with fiber optic connections to many other Arkansas institutions for distance learning medical consultation, etc. funded by a grant from the National Telecommunications Information Administration; and WHEREAS, Wmdstream Communications, Inc. also wishes to serve retail consumers of telecommunication services within Fayetteville. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby approves the application of Windstream Communications, Inc. to provide telecommunications services within Fayetteville and approves the Non -Exclusive Telecommunications Franchise Agreement with Windstream Communications, Inc. authorizing its use of the City's rights-of-way and public utility easements for the stated franchise fee. PASSED and APPROVED this 15'h day of May, 2012. APPROVED: ATTEST: By: By: LIONELD JORDAN, Mayor SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer NON-EXCLUSIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT This Agreement is entered into this 15's day of May, 2012, between the City of Fayetteville, AR, a municipal corporation duly organized pursuant to the laws of the State of Arkansas, and Windstream Communications, Inc. a corporation authorized to do business in the State of Arkansas. WITNESSETH WHEREAS, Fayetteville recognizes that fiber optic telecommunications services for the purpose of providing information services is essential to the creation and maintenance of an information network within the City of Fayetteville that can connect to the information superhighway; and WHEREAS, Windstream Communications has requested a franchise to use public rights-of-way, which may include streets, alleys, sidewalks and public utility easements available for telecommunications purposes that belong to or are controlled by the City or which are held in trust for the public by the City, hereinafter referred to as the "public rights-of-way," to install conduit, aerial or other cased fiber optic facilities which may be used by Windstream Communications to offer services to UAMS and to the general public within the City; and WHEREAS, the parties agree that these information services are a telecommunications service and, therefore, a utility for which a written franchise agreement may be entered pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §14-200-101 pursuant to the rights of the City to control the subject public rights-of-way in accordance with §110.02 Telecommunication Franchises of the Fayetteville Code; and WHEREAS, the City intends to exercise the full scope of its municipal powers, including both its police power and contracting authority, to promote the public interest and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City. NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE COVENANCTS AND AGREEMENTS SET FORTH BELOW, THE PARTIES DO HEREBY CONTRACT AND AGREE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: (a) Subject to the provision of this Agreement and §110.02 of the Fayetteville Code, a non-exclusive Telecommunications Franchise is hereby granted to Windstream Communications, Inc. for the placement and maintenance of buried and aerial fiber optic communications cable in the public rights-of-way at the locations specified in Exhibit "A" attached hereto to service an institution and elsewhere in Fayetteville to serve other customers. (b) It is agreed by the parties that this franchise shall have a limited term commencing May 15, 2012 and shall expire on May 14, 2032, unless the Agreement is renewed by written agreement of the parties at least 120 days prior to the end of the primary term, or unless the Franchise is earlier terminated by abandonment or due to breach by Windstream Communications. (c) The failure of Windstream Communication to meet any of the terns of this Agreement shall, after ninety (90) days notice and opportunity to cure, constitute cause for termination of this franchise by the City. Any termination will be declared in writing by the Mayor of the City of Fayetteville and shall be subject to due process review by the Fayetteville City Council. (d) This franchise is non-exclusive and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or otherwise impact the right of the City to enter into other franchise agreement with other parties. (e) All references to the City Engineer shall be deemed to refer to the City Engineer or the employees of the City designated by the City Engineer. Section 2: (a) All work involved in the construction, operation, maintenance, repair, upgrade, and removal of the fiber optic communications cable shall be performed by Windstream Communications in a manner and using material in accordance with City standards as determined by the City Engineer. Windstream Communications shall bore streets whenever possible. Where street cuts are unavoidable, as determined by the City Engineer, they shall be approved by the City Engineer and performed in accordance with the City's Unified Development Code. (b) Any construction project, including initial installation pursuant to this franchise, will be completed by Windstream Communications within ninety (90) clay from the date of commencement (if any City permit is necessary, the date of the permit shall be the "date of commencement"), provided the City Engineer may allow reasonable extension due to unexpected weather, acts of God or other reasonable circumstances that in the sole discretion of the City Engineer justify an extension of the project target completion date. Failure to complete the project by the completion date will result in the assessment of liquidated damages in an amount determined in writing by the City Engineer at the time the City issues any permit or authorizations for the construction project (or the sum of $100.00 per day if other sum is not so established). Section 3: The City Shall have no responsibility for the maintenance of the said buried or aerial fiber optic communications cable. If the same is damaged so as to be inoperable in any manner, it shall be removed by Windstream Communications at Windstream Communications' sole cost and expense and in a manner meeting with the approval of the City Engineer. The City Engineer may allow abandonment rather than removal if removal would cause undue hardship to Windstream Communications and is not necessary for the public good. Section 4: Windstream Communications shall hold the City harmless from and indemnify the City from all expenses, losses, costs, causes of action and judgments, including legal fees and expenses arising from the placement, maintenance operation, repair and removal of said fiber optic communication cable. Section 5: Windstream Communications shall be a member of and shall conform to the requirements of the Arkansas One Call system for all purposes including field locations of utilities prior to placement of the fiber optic communication cable and any maintenance or repair work thereto. Section 6: Windstream Communications shall place a $25,000.00 performance bond with the City to cover the cost of repairs or other incidental costs to the City associated with service interruption to the City's utility facilities resulting from the installation of the initial fiber optic communications cable by Windstream Communications. A similar bond shall be required for subsequent construction projects utilizing the subject public rights-of-way. Section 7: Windstream Communications shall procure and maintain in effect the following insurance policies in amounts determined appropriate by the City Engineer at the time of issuance of permits or authorizations for construction activities: Commercial General Liability Insurance, Automobile Liability Insurance, and Workers Compensation Insurance. Section 8: The franchise fee for the fiber optic cable providing broadband service to the institution as shown on Exhibit A is $3,360.00 per year to be paid monthly on the first day of each month in the amount of $280.00. This amount shall be reviewed by the City every five years and can be adjusted not to exceed the CPI inflation for that five year period. The Franchise Fee for all retail telecommunication services is set at four percent (4%) of Windstream Communications, Inc.'s Gross Revenues received for its services within Fayetteville during the preceding month pursuant to State law, and §110.02 (G) of the Fayetteville Code. Windstream Communications, Inc as the franchisee may, to the extent allowed by law, bill its subscribers within the corporate limits of the City the franchise fee and reflect such charge on its invoices to subscribers within the corporate limits of the City. Section 9: Windstream Communications shall, at its expense, protect, support, temporarily disconnect, relocate or remove from the subject public rights-of-way any 3 property of Windstream Communications when required at the sole discretion of the City by reason of the installation or construction of any type of structures or improvements by the City within its police powers or by reason of traffic conditions, public safety, street vacation, freeway and street construction, a change or establishment of street grade, installation or construction of sewers, drains or water pipes In such case Windstream Communications shall have the right of abandonment of its property, subject to prior written approval of the City Engineer. If federal or state funds are available at no expense to the City (including actual cost or the cost of a pro -rata obligation of the City where a project is funded partially by the State or federal funds and partially by the City funds) for the purpose of defraying the costs of any utility company of any of the foregoing, such funds shall also be made available to Windstream Communications if the federal or state regulations permit. Section 10: Neither the City nor its officers, employees, agents, attorneys, consultants or independent contractors shall have any liability to Windstream Communications, Inc. as a result of any disruption or damage to Windstream Communications' network that occurs as a result of, or in connection with, any breaking through, movement, removal, alteration, or relocation of any part of the network by or on behalf of or the City in connection with construction, relocations, improvement to or alteration of any city structure built pursuant to its police powers or to any city sidewalk, trail, water main, sewer main, street or utility facility The City shall reasonably attempt to avoid any damage to Windstream Communications' network and shall, except in any emergency situation, provide reasonable notice to Windstream Communications so as to allow Windstream Communications to protect its network. Section 11: Any notice of communications required in the administration of this Agreement shall be sent by first class mail and shall be addressed as follows: City of Fayetteville Mayor's Office 113 W. Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 Notice shall also be sent by e-mail to mayor@ci.fayetteville ar us and to cityattomey@ci.fayetteville.ar.us. Notice to Windstream Communications in regards to Engineering will be sent to: Windstream Communications, Inc. 4001 Rodney Parham Road Little Rock, AR 72212 ATTN: Mike Skudin V.P. Planning & Engineering 4 Notice to Windstream in regard to invoices, payment of fees and all other subjects to: Windstream Communications, Inc. 4001 Rodney Parham Road Little Rock, AR 72212 ATTN: Vicki Anger, Staff Manager, Tax Accounting Notice shall also be sent by e-mail to Bruce.Hurlbut@Windstream.com. and to Vicki.Anger@Windstream.com or to such other address as Windstream Communications and the City of Fayetteville may, in writing, designate from time to time, provided that notice is accomplished by delivery to only one designated person for the City or Windstream Communications, Inc. WHEREUPON, the City and Windstream Communications, Inc., acting through their duly authorized officers and pursuant to appropriate authority granted by their respective City Council or Board of Directors, do hereby execute this Franchise Agreement. CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS Date: Attest: WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. By: BILL BELLANDO Vice President Networks Engineering Witness: By: ,G Ls B Sondra E. Smith, City Clerk o°.R1K/TR ..., zu',• SGS V; GAS Y p c ., p • .�S. c :FAYETTEVILLE; _ 5 .....; ' ONa.•3 5 L\ 7C )_ - A_RKANiSAS Led by: UAMS UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS UNKI,._G 1-1EI I.TH, EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND P,UBLIC SAFETY FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was awarded $102 million by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) in the Department of Commerce to support a $128 -million broadband infrastructure that will serve community institutions across Arkansas. The UAMS Center for Distance Health will expand, integrate, and enhance the capabilities of two major existing community -serving networks: the Arkansas Tele -health Network as overseen by Arkansas Telehealth Oversight and Management (ATOM), and the Arkansas Research and Education Optical Network (ARE -ON). The Arkansas e -Link initiative will touch every county in Arkansas through its extensive partnership of healthcare, higher education, public safety, and research organizations that are united in their needs for improved bandwidth and broadband -enabled equipment to better serve their communities. More than 47o Arkansas locations will use increased bandwidth and new equipment to offer new and enhanced community services. Rural patients will be able to... • See specialty doctors through video without traveling to large cities. • Access health care research and educational materials through publicly available computers at certain libraries, health care facilities and higher education locations. Rural healthcare providers will be able to... • Keep more local patients because they will be able to work with urban doctors through video in cases where referrals might not be necessary. • Stay on top of the latest research through online educational programs made especially for health care professionals. Students and teachers will be able to... • Use broadband connectivity at computers on public college or university campuses. • Take or teach online courses and access other educational tools. Librarians at certain public libraries will be able to... • Help the surrounding communities by providing public access to computers with high-speed broadband connectivity. • Involve the public in health care and education provided by larger hospitals or colleges through video. windstream Windstream Corp. (Nasdaq: WIN) is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas. Windstream has more than 56 billion in annual revenues and is listed on the S&P soo index. For more information, visit www.windstream.com. Capital expenditures: State and local taxes paid: Employee count is as of April zoic. All other numbers are as of December 2013. • DimiwooE _1 Sabena Baarle Mg e.H Logan I Van &.ren Russellville%01 Y \I.. Manton, ref Yell • Mamelle. North Little Rock ��� ,I Sabre Littlee-Ro'c alga r 1._ National Overview windstream • S&P 500 company with $6 billion in • Approximately 14,500 employees annual revenue • More than 100,000 miles of fiber • More than 450,00o business customers nationwide • 6 network operations centers • Over 15o offices across the U.S. • Enterprise -class data centers Windstream Corp. (Nasdaq: WIN) is a leading provider of advanced network communications, including cloud computing and managed services, to businesses nationwide. The company also offers broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers primarily in rural areas. For more information, visit www.windstream.com. ave evl le Departmental Correspondence ARKANSAS www.accessfayetteville.org LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO: Mayor Jordan City Council CC: Don Marr, Chief of Staff Chris Brown, City Engineer Terry Gulley, Transportation Services Director FROM: Kit Williams, City Attorney DATE: May 7, 2012 Kit Williams City Attorney Jason B. Kelley Assistant City Attorney RE: Application for Telecommunications Franchise Agreement with Windstream Communications, Inc. Windstream Communications, Inc. needs to obtain a Telecommunications Franchise Agreement in order to provide fiber optic telecommunication services to the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences institution in Fayetteville. Attached is its Application for such Franchise as required by the Fayetteville Code Representatives of Windstream Communications, Inc. should be at your City Council meeting and probably also at your Agenda Session to explain their proposed project and their request for a Franchise Agreement. TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE APPLICATION Wtndstream Communications , Inc desires to obtain and operate pursuant (Name of Company) a Telecommunications Franchise Agreement within the City of Fayetteville. Wtndstream Communications, Inc. Telecommunications (Name of Company) submits this application for a Franchise and agrees to comply with all the terms and conditions of §110.02 Telecommunications Franchises and the City of Fayetteville Franchise Agreement to be approved by the Fayetteville City Council. (1) The general nature of the services to be provided (including wholesale, retail or both) is: Retail services to public institution. (2) The type of construction and its location (if service is limited and not city-wide) will be: Beginning at AT&T Central Office located at the intersection of West Spring Street and Northeast Avenue, place cable West along Spring Street for 1,017ft then South along Locust Avenue 1,405ft and West along Rock Street for 384ft then South along School Avenue for 22,335ft to intersection of School Avenue and Mabry Lane. Beginning at AT&T Central Office at Intersection of Hwy 71 & West Cato Road — go West on West Cato Road for a distance of 1,526ft. From AT&T Central Office to the intersection of West Cato Springs Road and School Street the proposed routed is underground for 10 304ft. From the intersection of West Cato Springs Road and School to the intersection of School and Mabry Lane the proposed route is aerial for 14,837ft. Total footage to be place within the city limits 26,667ft (3) The type of facilities to be constructed and/or used include: Placement of (2) 1.25 SDRII innerducts / (1) 48 fiber count cable will be placed into one innderduct and the second innerduct will be utilized as a spare. (4) Company history demonstrating it has the financial, legal and technical qualifications necessary to provide the service for which it seeks a franchise: (The provision of authorization from the Arkansas Public Service Commission shall be deemed satisfactory evidence for these qualifications. Please attach such authorization). Attached (5) Windstream Communications 4401 Rodney Parham Rd., Little Rock, AR, 72212 Attention: Dennis Davis Manager OSP Engineering 501-748-5193 dennis.d.davis@windstream.com By: d Representative's Signature Date: 2 ARK F . 'Ch: '.8 MAL Jua Z[ 10 23 All '06 BEFORE THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION f ?D DOCKET NO. 05-156-U ORDER NO. a 1 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATIONS OF ALLTEL HOLDING CORPORATE SERVICES, INC. FOR A CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY TO PROVIDE RESOLD INTEREXCHANGE TELE- COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE AND COMPETITIVE LOCAL EXCHANGE SERVICE IN ARKANSAS AND THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF TRANSFER ORDER On December 22, 2005, Alltel Holding Corporate Services, Inc. ("AHCS") filed an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity ("CCN") to provide resold interexchange telecommunications service and competitive local exchange service as a Competing Local Exchange Carrier ("CLEC") in Arkansas. AHCS also requested approval of the transfer of customers and facilities from Alltel Communications, Inc. ("ACI") to AHCS. On February 7, 2006, AHCS filed a proposed tariff which replaced in its entirety the original tariff filed with the application on December 22, 2005. On May 10, 2006, Ms. Cindy Ireland, Senior Telecommunications Analyst for the General Staff of the Arkansas Public Service Commission ("Staff"), filed testimony stating that she had reviewed the application for a CCN and the request for approval of the transfer of customers and facilities from ACI to ARCS. No other testimony or public comments were filed. ARCS and Staff filed a Joint Waiver of Heanng pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §23- DOCKET NO. 05-156-U PAGE 2 3-205, therefore a hearing on this matter is not required. Ms. Ireland testified that ARCS has opted into the Interconnection Agreement between Southwestern Bell Telephone, L.P. d/b/a AT&T Arkansas ("AT&T") and ALLTEL Communications, Inc., which was approved by the Commission in Docket No. 05-087-U on August 26, 2005. Ms. Ireland testified that the application which was filed indicated that AHCS has the financial, technical and management capacity to provide resold long distance and competitive local exchange telecommunications services. AHCS also filed a proposed tariff which included a statement that it concurs in the maps and legal descriptions of AT&T, CenturyTel of Arkansas, LLC and Centuryl'el of Northwest Arkansas that are on file with the Commission. Ms. Ireland concluded that the entry of AHCS as a CLEC within the service territory of AT&T Arkansas and Century Tel is consistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Act 77 of 1997 and that AHCS be granted a CCN to provide local and intrastate interexchange telecommunications services in Arkansas. Ms. Ireland also recommended that ARCS be directed to maintain a current tariff or price list with the Commission, that it be directed to maintain maps and legal descriptions of the areas to be served or indicate that it concurs with the appropriate maps and legal descriptions already on file with the Commission, it be directed to amend its tariff or price list to reflect any changes in the geographical area served, and that AHCS be directed to participate in the Arkansas Intrastate Common Carrier Line Pool. Ms. Ireland further testified that the acquisition of customers and facilities would be transparent to ACI's customers, and that no change in the terms or conditions of service would result from the transaction. Ms. Ireland concluded that the transfer of customers and facilities should be approved. Based on the testimony of Ms Ireland, the Presiding Officer finds that AHCS DOCKET NO. 05-156-U PAGE 3 should be and hereby is granted a CCN to provide local and intrastate interexchange telecommunications services in Arkansas. ARCS is directed to maintain a current tariff or price list with the Commission, directed to maintain maps and legal descriptions of the areas to be served or indicate that it concurs with the appropriate maps and legal descriptions already on file with the Commission, directed to amend its tariff or price list to reflect any changes in the geographical area served, and to participate in the Arkansas Intrastate Common Carrier Line Pool. The Presiding Officer further approves the transfer of customers and facilities from ACI to ARCS. There being no further action to be taken in this matter at this time, the Secretary of the Commission is hereby authorized and directed to close this docket. BY ORDER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE PURSUANT TO DELEGATION. This 22n day of June, 2006. JU D �� iana K. Wilson Secretary of the Commission Ted Thomas Administrative Law Judge I hereby certify that the follow M.,: order issued by thc Arkansa' Public tics ice ('.mtmission has been served nn all panics of record this date by U.S. mail uitli postage prepaid, using the address of each pun o, indicated in the oIlic al docket lily. anA Ulan Wt so Seereetary of thc Commission Dale Ca—aa-Zscsk Kimberly Bennett Director Rip/story Lew end Policy 4001 Rodney Parham Road 1170 — BIF01e3A Lege Rock. AR 72212 601.7466174 601 -74e -700e fax July 13, 2006 NA K. WIMk HH. SE AV OF COMP' RC ceivEo ZUob JUL 13 P 3 111 RECEIVED Arkansas Public Service Commission Attention: Diana Wilson, Secretary of the Commission 1000 Center Street Little Rock, AR 72201 £LLteL RE: Name change from Alltel Holding Corporate Services, Inc. to Windstream Communications, Inc. Dear Ms Wilson, Consistent with Alhel Holding Corporate Services, Inc.'s application in Docket No. 05- 156-U, Alltel Holding Corporate Services, Inc. hereby notifies the Commission of its name change to Windstream Communications, Inc. Pursuant to Commission Staffs instruction, attached to this letter are the filed Articles of Amendment with the Secretary of State to facilitate this name change. Also attached to this letter are the new General Subscriber Tariff, Access Tariff and Long Distance Tariff of Windstream Communications, Inc. This tariff is identical and does not contain any substantive changes from the tariffs previously filed for Alltel Holding Corporate Services, Inc. and Alhel Communications, Inc. The only changes from the existing tariffs on file with the Commission are the new name and contact information, as applicable, for Windstream Communications, Inc. If you have any questions please call me at (501) 748-6374. Sincerely, Kimberly K Bennett