Contact: Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Daniel P. Wolf
Telephone: 651-201-2217
Fax: 651-297-7073

St. Paul, Minnesota - On August 16, 2010, DTI filed a petition to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota. DTI is not able to reorganize and will cease operations on Monday, January 31, 2011. DTI initially filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) a request to discontinue all services to its Minnesota customers as of January 13, 2011. The MPUC met on January 11, 2011 to discuss concerns with DTI’s ability to transition all customers to other service providers by this end date. Commissioner Dennis O’Brien expressed his concern stating: “It is not in the public interest to disconnect customers who would then be without telephone service.” The MPUC recognizes that DTI’s ability to stay open until all of the customers are transitioned is limited by the bankruptcy proceeding. The MPUC, however, found that extending the date to January 31, 2011 to allow DTI sufficient time to assist their customers in transferring all services to a new carrier is in the public interest. The bankruptcy court’s decision regarding the exit date will take precedence over any federal or state regulatory authorities. DTI customers must transfer all services to another phone company before January 31, 2011 or risk losing all services on that date. If services are disconnected, customers will lose their telephone number/s. Customers should keep in mind that the new company may require five to ten business days to complete the transfer of their services. Any DTI customer who has not transferred their service to another carrier will most likely be without any service on Monday, January 31. To find a new carrier, visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s website at www.commerce.state.mn.us, and select Find Telephone Companies in the left-hand column under Online Services. Details regarding DTI’s filing with the MPUC are available on the Commission’s website via the Commission’s e-Dockets system.