LANSING, November 20.  The Michigan Public Service Commission today granted 
Ernest Communications, Inc., Dominion Telecom, Inc., United Communications Systems, 
Inc., d/b/a Call One, and Joy Lines, Inc. each a license to provide basic local 
telephone service in Michigan.  These companies join more than 160 companies that 
are currently licensed to provide basic local telephone service in Michigan.

	The Commission approved the licenses because it determined that the 
companies possess sufficient technical, financial and managerial resources and 
abilities to provide basic local telephone service to all residential and 
commercial customers within the geographic area of their licenses and intend to 
provide service within one year from today's order.  The Commission concluded 
that competition for local telephone service can be advantageous to Michigan 
residents and, by granting these requests for a license, opportunities for 
competition will expand.  The Commission conditioned the licenses upon full 
compliance with provisions of the Michigan Telecommunications Act, as well as 
the Commission's anti-slamming procedures, and failure to comply may result in 
revocation of the license or other penalties.  The Commission also conditioned 
the licenses upon the companies providing service to customers within a reasonable 
time, indicating that failure to do so may result in revocation of the license.  
Finally, the Commission noted that any numbers obtained by the companies are a 
public resource and are not owned by the companies.  Therefore, if any of the 
companies fail to provide service or go out of business, any numbers assigned to 
it are subject to reclamation.

	Ernest received a license to provide basic local telephone service for 
all telephone exchanges currently served by Ameritech Michigan, Verizon North 
Inc., Verizon North Systems, CenturyTel of Michigan, Inc., CenturyTel of 
Northern Michigan, Inc., CenturyTel Midwest, Inc., and CenturyTel of the Upper 
Peninsula, Inc.   Telephone exchanges are geographic boundaries that define 
customer's local calling area.  Ernest applied for a license on June 26, 2001.

	Dominion, United, and Joy Lines received licenses to provide basic local 
telephone service for all telephone exchanges currently served by Ameritech 
Michigan, Verizon North Inc. and Contel of the South, Inc., d/b/a Verizon North 
Systems. Dominion, United, and Joy Lines applied for a license on July 16, 2001, 
August 9, 2001, and August 17, 2001, respectively.

	These companies may begin providing basic local telephone service once 
they have finalized interconnection arrangements with other telephone service 
providers and filed approved tariffs with the Commission.  Tariffs will reflect 
the services they will offer and identify the telephone exchanges in which they 
will offer service.  Interconnection arrangements allow customers to place calls 
to, and receive them from, customers of other local telephone service providers.

	Ernest, Dominion, United and Joy Lines are headquartered in Norcross, 
Georgia, Richmond, Virginia, Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan, 
respectively.

	The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Consumer and Industry 
Services.


Cases Nos. U-12993, U-13021, U-13051, and U-13057
November 20, 2001
(Ernest, Dominion, United and Joy Lines granted licenses to provide basic local 
telephone service)