*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 48928.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 05- 1539 May 26, 2005 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY LP TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 05- 197 Comp. Pol. File No. 714 Comments Due: June 9, 2005 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sprint Communications Company LP On May 17, 2005, Sprint Communications Company LP (Sprint or Applicant), located at 6360 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, Kansas 66251, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) requesting authority, under section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U. S. C. § 214, and section 63.71 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C. F. R. § 63.71, to discontinue the provision of local service to both residential and business customers located in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Sprint indicates that it provides local service to approximately 81 business and residential customers served by the Gaithersburg wire center of Verizon Maryland Inc. Sprint states that it currently provides local service to these customers using the Unbundled Network Element- Platform (UNE- P) offering of Verizon. Sprint indicates, however, that Verizon will discontinue offering UNE- P upon conversion of its Gaithersburg wire center switch from circuit to packet later this year. Sprint states that it has determined it would be more cost effective to discontinue offering local service to these customers rather than migrate them to an alternative local service arrangement. Sprint indicates that, on or about May 10, 2005, it sent letters to all of its affected customers advising them that they should select a new local carrier by June 10, 2005 in order to avoid losing service on June 17, 2005, or as soon thereafter as practical for the discontinuance of Sprint’s service. Sprint adds that it plans to end its provision of local service no later than July 1, 2005. Sprint indicates that it is considered non- dominant with respect to the service it seeks to discontinue. In accordance with section 63.71( c) of the Commission’s rules, Sprint’s application will be deemed to be automatically granted on the thirty- first (31st) day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies Sprint that the grant will not be automatically effective. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c), absent further Commission action, Sprint may not terminate service to the customers affected by this application until June 26, 2005. The Commission will normally 1 2 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 June 9, 2005. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 05- 197 and Comp. Pol. File No. 714. 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 12th 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 12th 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 12th 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 12th 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. 2 3 For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418- 2325 (voice), carmell. weathers@ fcc. gov, or Denise Coca, (202) 418- 0574 (voice), denise. coca@ 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