-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, HzVxeQF868jQUPFsyFFJGymkDl22Ul4ryr7cf1jwXKvgSY6OW7Xh5jQTYkyEtlpR jZ4SF1SIBdGMTb9MmYD0PQ== 0000000000-05-048846.txt : 20060501 0000000000-05-048846.hdr.sgml : 20060501 20050921155059 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000000000-05-048846 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: UPLOAD PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050921 FILED FOR: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC /NEW/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000310433 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813] IRS NUMBER: 232093008 STATE OF INCORPORATION: PA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: UPLOAD BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 CTE DRIVE STREET 2: PO BOX 800 CITY: DALLAS STATE: PA ZIP: 18612-9799 BUSINESS PHONE: 7176742700 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: C TEC CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19860501 LETTER 1 filename1.txt June 7, 2005 By Facsimile and U.S. Mail Raymond B. Ostroski Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. 100 CTE Drive Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612-9774 Luciana Fato Davis Polk & Wardwell 450 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10017 Re: Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-4, Amendment No. 1 Schedule TO-I, Amendment No. 2 Filed June 2, 2005 Dear Mr. Ostroski and Ms. Fato: We have the following comments on the above-referenced amendments: Schedule TO-I 1. Revise the Schedule TO-I to incorporate the amended registration statement. Form S-4 Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations, page 52 2. We reissue comment 2. You explain that counsel cannot provide an unqualified opinion with respect to the tax consequences discussed on pages 49 and 50 because "there is no authority directly addressing the issue." As state in our prior comment, please revise this section to explain why counsel is not able to opine on the material federal income tax consequences and describe the degree of uncertainty. For example, please briefly explain the applicable standards or guidance, such as how you determine whether there has been a "significant modification" in the notes and why counsel believes the receipt of the exchange fee should be ordinary income rather than capital gains. Provide similar disclosure on page 53 regarding constructive dividends. In addition, revise the "Constructive Dividends" paragraph to provide counsel`s opinion regarding the tax consequences. Remove the terms "may" and "would" from both sections. 3. Please refer to comment 3. Unless the tax treatment of the exchange could differ from security holder to security holder based on their particular circumstances, the revised disclaimers in the third and sixth paragraphs on page 53 should be further revised or removed. Closing Comments As appropriate, please amend your registration statement and Schedule TO in response to these comments. You may wish to provide us with marked copies of the amendment to expedite our review. Please furnish a cover letter with your amendment that keys your responses to our comments and provides any requested supplemental information. Detailed cover letters greatly facilitate our review. Please understand that we may have additional comments after reviewing your amendment and responses to our comments. We will consider a written request for acceleration of the effective date of the registration statement as a confirmation of the fact that those requesting acceleration are aware of their respective responsibilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as they relate to the proposed public offering of the securities specified in the above registration statement. We will act on the request and, pursuant to delegated authority, grant acceleration of the effective date. We direct your attention to Rules 460 and 461 regarding requesting acceleration of a registration statement. Please allow adequate time after the filing of any amendment for further review before submitting a request for acceleration. Please provide this request at least two business days in advance of the requested effective date. Please direct any questions to me at (202) 551-3262. You may also contact me by facsimile at (202) 772-9203. Sincerely, Abby Adams Special Counsel Office of Mergers and Acquisitions ?? ?? ?? ?? Raymond B. Ostroski Luciana Fato June 7, 2005 Page 1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-0303 DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----