*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 13499.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 2896 December 13, 2001 COMMENTS INVITED ON SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L. P. APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES NSD File No. W- P- D- 544 Comments Due: December 27, 2001 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L. P. On December 3, 2001, Sprint Communications Company L. P. (Sprint or Applicant), located at 6360 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, KS 66251, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission), requesting authority under section 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 Sprint seeks to discontinue its provision of resold local service to its residential customers in the state of California. Applicant explains that it will continue to offer long distance service (both intraLATA and interLATA) to its California cust omers, but it will no longer provide them wit h local service. The applicat ion st at es t hat Sprint received approval from the California Public Utilit ies Commission (CPUC) to discontinue providing resold local service in that state. According to Applicant, the CPUC granted Sprint discontinuance approval on or about November 16, 2001. Sprint states that in March, 2001, it provided written notification to its customers of its request to the CPUC for discontinuance approval. Furthermore, Applicant explains that on or about November 16, 2001, it notified its customers that the CPUC had granted it discontinuance approval, and reminded them to select a new local service provider by December 31, 2001. 1 On or about December 3, 2001, Sprint states that 1 Sprint also states that it informed its customers that if they fail to select a new local service carrier by December 31, 2001, and if they are in good credit standing with the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) serving their area (either Pacific Bell or Verizon), their local service would automatically be transferred to the ILEC. Otherwise, service would be cancelled. Sprint states that the transfer/ termination is set to begin January 7, 2002. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 it sent a final letter to its customers reminding them of the need to switch to a new local service provider by December 31, 2001, and provided them with proper notice, as required by Commission rules. 2 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. 3 Comment s object ing t o this applicat ion must be filed wit h the Commission by December 27, 2001. Such comments should refer to application file number W- P- D- 544. 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. All comments should also be faxed to the FCC at (202) 418- 2345, Attention: Jon Minkoff. Comments should 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 12 th 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 47 C. F. R. § 63.71( a)( 5)( i). 3 See generally 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 - 1.1216. 2