*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 14311.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 02- 168 January 18, 2002 COMMENTS INVITED ON ALMA TELEPHONE COMPANY APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES NSD File No. W- P- D- 557 Comments Due: February 1, 2002 Section 214 Application Applicant: Alma Telephone Company On January 10, 2002, Alma Telephone Company (Alma or Applicant), located at P. O. Box 127, Alma, MO 64001, filed an applicat ion wit h t he Federal Communicat ions 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 Alma seeks authority to discontinue providing interstate telecommunications services. Alma states that due to a corporate restructuring and reorganizat ion of some of its unrelat ed asset s, a new company (Alma Communicat ions, Inc. d/ b/ a Alma Telephone Company, (ACI)) will be creat ed under Missouri law. Applicant explains that following this reorganization, ACI will have the same shareholders, directors and management , will provide the same local exchange services, and will serve t he same cust omers. Alma also explains that aft er the reorganizat ion, its cust omers will not see a change in t he name of their service provider, contact and billing information, or rates and terms of service. Concurrently with its application, Alma filed a request for waiver of the customer notification requirement. 1 As grounds, Alma assert s that not ificat ion would simply cause confusion. 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. 1 See 47 C. F. R. § 63.71( a)( 5)( i). News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 This proceeding is considered a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. 2 Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission by February 1, 2002. Such comments should refer to application file number W-P- D- 557. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute 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. Commenters are also requested to fax their comments to the FCC at (202) 418- 2345, Attention: Jon Minkoff. Interested parties who wish to file comments via messenger- delivery or hand-delivery are also notified that effective December 18, 2001, the Commission will only receive such deliveries weekdays from 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m., via its contractor, Vistronix, Inc., located at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The Commission no longer accepts these filings at 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. Please note that all hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners, and envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. In addition, this is a reminder that as of October 18, 2001, the Commission no longer accepts hand- delivered or messenger- delivered filings at its headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (other than United States Postal Service (USPS) Express and Priority Mail), must be addressed to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. This location is open weekdays from 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. USPS First- Class, Express, and Priority Mail should be addressed to the Commission’s headquarters at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. The following chart summarizes this information: TYPE OF DELIVERY PROPER DELIVERY ADDRESS Hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002 (Weekdays - 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m.) Other messenger- delivered documents, including documents sent by overnight mail (this type excludes USPS Express and Priority Mail) 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743 (Weekdays - 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m.) USPS First- Class, Express, and Priority Mail 445 12 th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 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 2 See generally 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 - 1.1216. 2 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- 3