COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION
     

Order For Notice And Hearing

        On December 13, 1999, GCR Telecommunications, Inc. ("GCR" or "Applicant") completed an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity ("certificate") requesting authority to provide local exchange telecommunications services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

        NOW UPON CONSIDERATION of the filing, the Commission is of the opinion that GCR's application should be docketed; that the Applicant should give notice to the public of its application; that the Commission Staff should conduct an investigation into the reasonableness of the application and present its findings in a Staff Report: and that a public hearing should be convened to receive evidence relevant to GCR's application.

        Accordingly, IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:

1. This case is docketed and assigned Case No. PUC990210.

2. A public hearing for the purpose of receiving evidence relevant to GCR's application is scheduled for February 23, 2000, at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission's second floor courtroom located in the Tyler Building, 1300 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia.

3. On or before January 19, 2000, the Applicant shall complete a publication of the following notice, which may be published on one (1) occasion as classified advertising, in newspapers having general circulation throughout the Applicant's proposed service territory:

4. On or before February 4, 2000, any person desiring to participate as a Protestant as defined in Rule 4:6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure ("Rules") shall file an original and fifteen (15) copies of a Notice of Protest as provided in Rule 5:16 (a) and shall serve a copy of the same on GCR's counsel, John C. Dodge, Esquire, Cole, Raywid & Braverman, L.L.P., 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006.

5. Any person who expects to submit evidence, cross-examine witnesses, or otherwise participate in the proceeding as a Protestant, pursuant to Rule 4:6 shall file on or before February 4, 2000, an original and fifteen (15) copies of its Protest with the Clerk of the Commission at the address listed above, referring to Case No. PUC990210, and shall on the same day mail a copy thereof to GCR's counsel, John C. Dodge, Esquire, Cole, Raywid & Braverman, L.L.P., 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006, and to any other Protestants.  The Protest shall set forth ( i ) a precise statement of the interest of the Protestant in the proceeding; ( ii ) a full and clear statement of the facts which the Protestant is prepared to prove by competent evidence; and  ( iii ) a statement of the specific relief sought and the legal basis therefor.  Any corporate entity that wishes to submit evidence, cross-examine witnesses, or otherwise participate as a Protestant must be represented by legal counsel in accordance with the requirement of Rule 4:8 of the Commission's Rules.

6. On or before February 4, 2000, each Protestant shall file with the Clerk of the Commission an original and fifteen (15) copies of the prepared testimony and exhibits the Protestant intends to present at the hearing, and on the same day mail a copy of the same to the counsel for GCR and other Protestants.  Service upon counsel for GCR shall be made at the address set forth above.

7. The Commission Staff shall analyze the reasonableness of GCR's application and present its findings in a Staff Report to be filed on or before February 8, 2000.

8. On or before February 8, 2000, if necessary, the Commission Staff may file with the Clerk of the Commission and original and fifteen (15) copies of any prepared testimony and exhibits it intends to present at the public hearing.  A copy of the Staff direct testimony shall be mailed to the counsel for the Applicant and to each Protestant.

9.  On or before February 8, 2000, the Applicant shall file with the Clerk of the Commission and original and fifteen (15) copies of any prepared testimony it expects to introduce in rebuttal to any direct prefiled testimony of Staff and Protestants.  A copy of the rebuttal testimony shall be mailed to Staff and each Protestant by overnight delivery.

10. At the commencement of the hearing scheduled herein, GCR shall provide to the Commission proof of the notice and service required by ordering paragraphs (3) and (4) herein.

11. The Applicant shall respond to written interrogatories or data requests within seven (7) days after the receipt of the same.  Protestants shall provide to the Applicant, other Protestant and Staff any workpapers or documents used in preparation of their prefiled testimony, promptly upon request.  Except as so modified, discovery shall be in accordance with part VI of the Rules.

AN ATTESTED COPY hereof shall be sent by the clerk of the Commission to: John C. Dodge, Esquire, Cole, Raywid & Braverman, L.L.P., 1919 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20006; John F. Dudley, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Division of Consumer Counsel, Office of the Attorney General, 900 East Main Street, Second Floor, Richmond, Virginia 23219; and the Commission's Division of Communications, Public Utility Accounting, and Economics and Finance.

For more information regarding GCR Telecommunications, 

contact Glenn Ratliff at (434)-572-1765 or 800-239-8670 email: gcr@gcrcompany.com