*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 38072* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 04- 1249 April 30, 2004 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF MCI, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 04- 155 Comp. Pol. File No. 681 Comments Due: May 14, 2004 Section 214 Application Applicant: MCI, Inc. On April 16, 2004, MCI, Inc. (MCI or Applicant), located at 22001 Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) 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 the provision of long- distance direct dial and calling card voice services in Guam. The application states that MCI provides long- distance direct dial and calling card voice services, either on a stand- alone basis, or combined with Internet services, to approximately 5,700 residential and business customers in Guam. MCI states that it has decided, after careful consideration, not to replace its sole voice switch in Guam, which is nearing the end of its expected operational life. MCI requests authority to discontinue service rather than incur the costs associated with replacing its switch. The application indicates that the planned discontinuance will only affect MCI’s provision of long- distance direct dial and calling card voice services, but will not affect MCI’s provision of MCI Internet or data services. MCI states that it provides stand- alone data and Internet services to an additional 13 customers. The application indicates that MCI is non- dominant with respect to its long- distance direct dial and calling card voice services and that substitute long- distance services are available from at least five other companies. MCI states that it plans to discontinue these services on May 31, 2004. MCI also indicates that coincident with the filing of its discontinuance application, it notified all affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by letter. In accordance with section 63.71( c) of the Commission’s rules, 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 the Applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c), absent further Commission action, MCI News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 2 may not terminate service to the customers affected by this application until May 31, 2004. 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 May 14, 2004. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 04- 155 and Comp. Pol. File No. 681. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and should include the following words in the subject line "get form ." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must send an original and four (4) copies of the comments 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, Natek, 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. 2 3 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), carmell. weathers@ fcc. gov, or Brad Koerner, (202) 418- 0866 (voice), brad. koerner@ 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. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION- 3