*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 51075.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- 2319 August 18, 2005 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L. P. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 05- 258 Comp. Pol. File No. 721 Comments Due: September 1, 2005 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L. P. On August 8, 2005, Sprint Communications Company L. P. (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 certain domestic telecommunications services in Pleasantville, New York. Sprint indicates that it provides local service to approximately 25 business and residential customers served by the Pleasantville wire center of Verizon- New York Inc. (Verizon). 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 Pleasantville 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 July 29, 2005, it sent letters to all of its affected customers advising them that they should select a new local carrier by September 10, 2005 in order to avoid losing service on September 28, 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 September 30, 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. In Sprint’s application and notice to its customers, Sprint indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on September 28, 2005, or as soon thereafter as practical. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c) and 1 2 the terms of Sprint’s application, absent further Commission action, Sprint may not terminate service to the customers affected by this application until September 28, 2005. 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 September 1, 2005. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 05- 258 and Comp. Pol. File No. 721. 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 FR 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ cgb/ ecfs/. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 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, filers should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. 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. 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). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. The Commission’s contractor 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, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S. W., 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. The application will be available for public inspection 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 duplicating 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 2 3 FCC@ BCPIWEB. COM. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e- mail to fcc504@ fcc. gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418- 0530 (voice), (202) 418- 0432 (TTY). 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- 3