*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 52124* 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- 2643 September 30, 2005 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF WISCONSIN BELL, INC. D/ B/ A SBC WISCONSIN TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 05- 280 Comp. Pol. File No. 723 Comments Due: October 14, 2005 Section 214 Application Applicant: Wisconsin Bell, Inc. d/ b/ a SBC Wisconsin On August 23, 2005, Wisconsin Bell, Inc. d/ b/ a SBC Wisconsin (SBC or Applicant), located at 722 North Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202, 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 its provision of a certain domestic telecommunications service in the state of Wisconsin. SBC indicates that it currently provides intraLATA toll services in the Aurora, Florence, Niagara and Spread Eagle exchanges in the state of Wisconsin. SBC states that the intraLATA toll service it provides in these exchanges has the capability of terminating interstate calls to certain exchanges in Michigan that are also in LATA 342. SBC indicates that it plans to discontinue this service on November 1, 2005. SBC asserts that it provided affected customers with written notification of the planned discontinuance by first class U. S. Mail on August 17, 2005. In addition, SBC states that it notified affected customers by newspaper advertisement in the Florence Mining News and Niagara Journal on August 10, 2005. SBC asserts that it is a non- dominant carrier with respect to the intraLATA toll service it proposes to discontinue. SBC indicates that it does not have carrier of last resort obligations for intraLATA toll service in these exchanges, and that the Niagara Telephone Company is the incumbent local exchange carrier. SBC states that it is one of many carriers that currently provide intraLATA toll service in the affected exchanges, including MCI, Sprint and Qwest. SBC further states that it has agreed to pay for one intraLATA PIC- change fee for each affected customer, so affected customers will not be charged for changing their intraLATA toll provider and the public convenience and necessity should not be adversely affected. SBC indicates that the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin recently approved SBC’s request to discontinue intraLATA toll service in these exchanges. 1 2 In accordance with section 63.71( c) of the Commission’s rules, SBC’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 SBC that the grant will not be automatically effective. In SBC’s application and notice to its customers, SBC indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on November 1, 2005. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c) and the terms of SBC’s application, absent further Commission action, SBC may not terminate service until November 1, 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 October 14, 2005. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 05- 280 and Comp. Pol. File No. 723. 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. 2 3 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 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