*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 26719* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 03- 1155 April 14, 2003 COMMENTS INVITED ON BELL ATLANTIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC. D/ B/ A VERIZON LONG DISTANCE APPLICATION TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Comp. Pol. File No. 644 Comments Due: April 28, 2003 Section 214 Application Applicant: Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc. d/ b/ a Verizon Long Distance On April 1, 2003, Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc. d/ b/ a Verizon Long Distance (Verizon LD or Applicant) located at 1320 N. Court House Rd., 9 th Floor, Arlington, VA 22201 submitted an application, officially filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on April 14, 2003, requesting authority under section 214( a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 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 casual calling service( s). Verizon LD states that its casual calling service allows customers to access the company’s service by dialing the access code assigned to the company prior to dialing the destination number (e. g., 1016963 + 1 + area code + destination number). Verizon LD states that it has never marketed casual calling services in the past, and has no plans to market such services in the future. The application, therefore, indicates that Verizon LD plans to discontinue its provision of casual calling service from domestic locations, wherever network facilities and billing systems permit. Verizon LD states that it is not seeking to forfeit any state authorization (or certification) in connection with this application, and that it will continue to provide other interexchange services (including but not limited to presubscribed dial 1, calling card, operator services and Directory Assistance calling) throughout its service territory. On April 10, 2003, Verizon LD filed an amendment to its application indicating that Verizon LD plans to discontinue the provision of casual calling services throughout the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and Vermont, on May 15, 2003, or as soon thereafter as the necessary governmental approval can be obtained. Verizon LD states that, in the February News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 2 and March billing cycles, it provided written notice of its intent to discontinue casual calling services via a bill message to all customers with casual calling usage. 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. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c), absent further Commission action, Verizon LD may not terminate service to the customers affected by this application until May 15, 2003. The Commission 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 would be otherwise adversely affected. This proceeding is considered a “permit but disclose” proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200- 1.1216. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before April 28, 2003. Such comments should refer to Comp. Pol. File No. 644. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. The original and four (4) copies of the comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. Two (2) copies of the comments should also be sent to the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room 6- A207, Washington, D. C. 20554, Attention: Carmell Weathers. In addition, comments should be served upon the Applicant. Commenters are also requested to fax their comments to the FCC at (202) 418- 2345, Attention: Carmell Weathers. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U. S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). The Commission's contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 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, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 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 Rodney McDonald, (202) 418- 7513 (voice), rlmcdona@ fcc. gov, of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. For further information on procedures regarding Section 214 please visit http:// www. fcc. gov/ wcb/ cpd/ other_ adjud. 2 3 -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 3