*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 55605.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- 565 March 10, 2006 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF PNG TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. D/ B/ A POWERNET GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 06- 60 Comp. Pol. File No. 751 Comments Due: March 24, 2006 Section 214 Application Applicant: PNG Telecommunications, Inc. d/ b/ a PowerNet Global Communications On March 6, 2006, PNG Telecommunications, Inc. d/ b/ a PowerNet Global Communications (PNG or Applicant), located at 100 Commercial Drive, Fairfield, Ohio 45014, 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 to customers located in California, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. PNG indicates that it currently provides local exchange and interexchange service in these areas. PNG, however, only seeks to discontinue the provision of local exchange telecommunications services to: (1) all customers in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania; (2) customers located in the areas served by Verizon in California, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio; and (3) customers in mandatory extended area service areas in Texas and Virginia. PNG adds that it plans to continue to offer interexchange services in these areas and both interexchange and local exchange services in other areas of the country. PNG states that its records indicate that, as of February 27, 2006, there were approximately 302 affected customers. 1 PNG proposes to discontinue service to these customers as of April 10, 2006 subject to the approval of this application and corresponding state applications. PNG states that, on March 3, 2006, it sent a notice to the affected customers containing the information required by section 63.71 of the Commission’s rules. Finally, PNG asserts that it is a non- dominant carrier as defined by section 61.3 of the Commission’s rules. 1 According to PNG, the 302 customers are distributed as follows: California (61); Illinois (10); Indiana (22); Michigan (34); Missouri (6); North Carolina (5); Ohio (20); Pennsylvania (82); Texas (17); and Virginia (45). 1 2 In accordance with section 63.71( c) of the Commission’s rules, PNG’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 PNG that the grant will not be automatically effective. In PNG’s application and notice to customers, PNG indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on April 10, 2006, or as soon thereafter as the necessary governmental approvals can be obtained. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71( c) and the terms of PNG’s application and notice to customers, absent further Commission action, PNG may terminate service to its affected customers on April 10, 2006. 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 March 24, 2006. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 06- 60 and Comp. Pol. File No. 751. 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 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