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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 7, 2005
CONTACT: Patricia Van Gerpen, phone (605) 773-3201

S&S Communications' customers encouraged to file bond claims

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is encouraging customers of the now defunct S&S Communications of Aberdeen to file for bond proceeds before the October 7, 2005 deadline.

Customers of the former long distance telephone provider, S&S Communications, at the time of business' failure are being asked to complete and submit the "Proof of Claim Form" available via the PUC's Web site at puc.sd.gov. The Commission has bond proceeds of $150,000 to distribute amongst the former company's customers to reimburse them for long distance services paid for but not received from S&S. The proceeds will not be used to recover any other damage claims against S&S.

The PUC estimates that the total potential claims against the bond proceeds could be as high as or more than $2 million. Therefore, claimants will probably receive only a fraction of their claims. Customers who purchased service from S&S in close proximity to the business' failure – on or about June 3, 2002 - are more likely to receive bond proceeds. That is because these customers were probably unable to receive much service in relation to their payments to S&S.

Each claim received will be reviewed by the PUC staff, which in turn will recommend the amount of bond proceeds to be paid to each customer. The PUC Commissioners will determine the actual claims paid to each claimant based on staff recommendations. Customers who had more than one contract with S&S, purchased on different dates, will need to complete and submit separate bond claims for each contract.

A bond claim form must be submitted along with a copy of the customer's contract with S&S or a cancelled check to: South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, c/o S&S Bond Claim Form, 500 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, S.D. 57501-5070. These must be delivered or postmarked by October 7, 2005 to be considered.

Former S&S customers with questions can contact the PUC by calling (800) 332-1782 or e-mailing pucconsumerinfo@state.sd.us. The S&S bond proceeds docket and claim form can be found on the Web at http://puc.sd.gov . Click "Commission Actions," "Commission Dockets," "2005 Telecommunications Dockets" and then "Docket TC05-047."  

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