Centennial Wireless representatives said they will not waste time putting their promise for phone service in the Shaw/Blackhawk communities into action.

Centennial Vice President of the Southeast Region John LeBouef, said Monday the company is in the &uot;very initial stages&uot; of setting up phone service in south Concordia Parish.

However, LeBouef said Monday his prediction as a &uot;best case scenario&uot; timeline on getting phone service in those two communities is six to nine months.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents Concordia in District 5, said the rates &uot;will be in line with what they are all over the state of Louisiana.&uot;

The bodies of water that criss-cross the area should be no problem, LeBouef said.

The largest challenge to getting service in the Shaw/Blackhawk communities, LeBouef said, is getting the signal back to the switch in Alexandria. The traditional way is sending the signal by way of the telephone company trunks. But, in Shaw/Blackhawk, that is the problem &045; there is no phone service, lines or poles.

Shaw residents, including Jessie Lee, said they want phone service where they will be able to receive and make phone calls in the comfort of their own homes and not have to go outside. &uot;I feel reasonably confident we’re going to be able to meet that criteria,&uot; LeBouef said.

Although Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell said the company would provide wireless Internet service, LeBouef said Centennial does not currently provide that service.

However, with its designation from the Louisiana PSC as an eligible telephone communication carrier by Louisiana, Centennial may be able to use federal Universal Service Funds to bring not only basic services but advanced technology to rural areas, like Internet services, LeBoeuf said.

Last Wednesday, at the Louisiana Public Service Commission meeting, the PSC ordered Centennial to provide phone service to that unserviced area. The order came after the PSC approved Centennial access to the federal Universal Service Fund that finances telephone service in rural areas. Centennial is not guaranteed money from that fund until approved by the Federal Communications Commission.

According to Bill Robertson, executive assistant to Campbell, the FCC requires state commissions to bless any wireless applications to the fund, which includes access to about $12 million per year.

Robertson said Centennial Wireless was the first wireless company to receive approval in the state of Louisiana.