*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 61533.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 06- 2489 December 11, 2006 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF VCI COMPANY TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 06- 219 Comp. Pol. File No. 774 Comments Due: December 26, 2006 Section 214 Application Applicant: VCI Company On December 4, 2006, VCI Company (VCI or Applicant), located at 2228 S. 78 th Street, Tacoma, Washington 98409- 9050, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) requesting authority to the extent necessary, 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 telecommunications services to customers located in the states of Oregon and Washington. VCI states that it provides basic local exchange service and certain ancillary services, such as custom calling features, to “non- federal governmental” customers throughout its service areas. VCI specifically indicates that it provides service to approximately 1,629 customers in Oregon and approximately 17,258 customers in Washington. VCI states, however, that providing service in these states has become cost prohibitive, and that it intends to discontinue all service in these states as part of its plan to ensure the continued long- term profitability of the company. VCI indicates that it plans to discontinue services to all affected customers in Oregon and Washington upon approval of its application by the Commission, and upon further approval by the respective state commissions. VCI anticipates that it will receive approval from the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to discontinue service on January 1, 2007. VCI further anticipates that it will receive approval from the Public Utility Commission of Oregon to discontinue service on February 1, 2007. VCI asserts that alternative service providers are readily available to serve VCI’s customers because Qwest is the incumbent local exchange carrier and many competitive carriers also have been certified to provide service in these areas. VCI indicates that it provided notice of its proposed discontinuance to all affected customers by letters mailed on November 29, 2006. Finally, VCI states that it is non- dominant with respect to the services that it proposes to discontinue. 1 2 In accordance with section 63.71( c) of the Commission’s rules, VCI’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 VCI that the grant will not be automatically effective. In VCI’s application and notice to customers, VCI indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service to its customers in Washington on January 1, 2007 or upon approval of its application, and to its customers in Oregon on February 1, 2007 or upon approval of its application. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c) and the terms of the application, absent further Commission action, VCI may terminate service to its affected customers in Washington on January 11, 2007 and to its affected customers in Oregon on February 1, 2007. 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 December 26, 2006. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 06- 219 and Comp. Pol. File No. 774. 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- 1413, 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 Rodney McDonald, (202) 418- 7513 (voice), rodney. mcdonald@ 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