*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 44476.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 04- 3674 November 22, 2004 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF EPICUS, INC. a/ k/ a TELEPHONE COMPANY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 04- 419 Comp. Pol. File No. 693 Comments Due: December 6, 2004 Section 214 Application Applicant: Epicus, Inc. a/ k/ a Telephone Company of Central Florida On August 11, 2004, Epicus, Inc. a/ k/ a Telephone Company of Central Florida (Epicus or Applicant), located at 1025 Greenwood Blvd. Suite 470, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, 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 intrastate long distance service in North Dakota. 1 Epicus indicates that it intends to discontinue offering intrastate long distance service in North Dakota, as part of its plan to restructure its business and make its operations more economically efficient. In its application, Epicus explains that it presently does not have any intrastate long distance customers in North Dakota and thus there are no affected customers to notify of the planned discontinuance. Epicus notes, however, that it has provided notice to the Governor of the State of North Dakota, the North Dakota Public Service Commission and the Special Assistant for Telecommunications for the Secretary of Defense. Epicus requests authority to discontinue offering services as of September 10, 2004, or as soon thereafter as the necessary state and federal regulatory authorizations have been obtained. 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 (31st) day after the release date of this publicnotice, 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, Epicus may not discontinue service until December 22, 2004. The Commission will normally authorize proposed discontinuances of service unless 1 This application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on October 29, 2004. News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY 202 / 418- 2555 1 2 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 December 6, 2004. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 04- 419 and Comp. Pol. File No. 693. 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 5- C327, 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. 20554, (202) 418- 0270. A copy of the application may also be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, telephone (202) 488- 5300, facsimile (202) 488- 5563, or via e- mail at FCC@ BCPIWEB. COM. For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418- 2325 (voice), carmell. weathers@ fcc. gov, or John Adams, (202) 418- 0394 (voice), john. adams@ 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- 2