*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 11938.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 2306 October 4, 2001 COMMENTS INVITED ON QWEST LONG DISTANCE, INC. APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES NSD File No. W- P- D- 526 Comments Due: October 18, 2001 Section 214 Application Applicant: Qwest Long Distance, Inc. On September 24, 2001, Qwest Long Distance, Inc. (QLD or Applicant), located at 1801 California St., Suite 3100, Denver, CO 80202, filed an application with the Federal Communicat ions Commission (FCC or Commission), request ing aut horit y under sect ion 214( a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U. S. C. § 214( a), and section 63.71 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. § 63.71, to discontinue its domestic telecommunications services. The application indicates that QLD seeks to discontinue providing domestic interstate telecommunications services. Applicant clarifies that the discontinuance request applies only to services provided by QLD, and not t o any services provided by ot her affiliat es or subsidiaries of Qwest Communicat ions Int ernat ional, Inc. (Qwest ). 1 The application also explains that QLD, formerly US West Long Distance, Inc. (USWLD), had been designated as US West Inc. ’s Section 272 affiliate before and after its merger with Qwest. During that time, Applicant states that it offered long- distance services outside the fourteen (14) states in US West’s region. The application states that after the merger, all QLD customers were contacted and voluntarily agreed to choose another long- distance carrier. The application indicates that in January 2001, Qwest designated a different subsidiary, Qwest Communications Corporation (QCC), as its Section 272 affiliat e and consolidat ed QLD’s operat ions int o QCC’s. Applicant also states that QCC was Qwest’s long- distance operating company prior to the merger, that QCC owns a nationwide telecommunications network, and that it is one 1 According to the application, QLD has never offered or provided interLATA telecommunications services originating in the fourteen (14) states where Qwest Corporation is the regional Bell operating company: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 of the top five (5) providers of long- distance service in the United States. QLD explains that it no longer has any customers anywhere in the United States; consequently, it has no affected customers to whom that it can provide notice. In accordance with 47 C. F. R. § 63.71( c), the application will be deemed to be automatically granted on the thirty- first (31 st ) day after the release date of this notice, unless the Commission has notified Applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. The FCC will normally authorize proposed discontinuances of service unless it is shown that customers or other end users would be unable to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another carrier, or that the public convenience and necessity is otherwise adversely affected. This proceeding is considered a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. 2 Comment s object ing t o this applicat ion must be filed wit h the Commission by October 18, 2001. Such comments should refer to application file number W-P- D- 526. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discont inuance on t he comment er, including any inabilit y to acquire reasonable subst it ut e service. Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room TW- A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two (2) copies of the comments should also be sent to the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room 6- A207, Washington, DC 20554, Attention: Carmell Weathers. Comments should also be served upon Applicant. The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room CY- A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418- 0270. A copy of the application may also be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone 202- 863- 2893, facsimile 202- 863- 2898, or via e- mail at qualexint@ aol. com. For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418- 2325 (voice), cweather@ fcc. gov, or Jon Minkoff (202) 418- 2353 (voice), jminkoff@ fcc. gov, of the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. For further information on procedures regarding Section 214 please visit the Network Services Division web site at: http:// www. fcc. gov/ ccb/ nsd/ documents/ 214.html. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 2 See generally 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 - 1.1216. 2