PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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 07-1468 March 27, 2007 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF BELLSOUTH LONG DISTANCE, INC. D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE SERVICE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 07-56 Comp. Pol. File No. 784 Comments Due: April 10, 2007 Section 214 Application Applicant: BellSouth Long Distance, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long Distance Service On March 14, 2007, BellSouth Long Distance, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long Distance Service (BellSouth or Applicant), located at 400 Perimeter Center Terrace, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30346, 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 throughout the continental United States and Hawaii. By amendments filed March 15, 2007 and March 22, 2007, BellSouth corrected certain deficiencies in its initial application and updated the record regarding notice in the affected areas. Accordingly, BellSouth’s application is deemed complete as of March 22, 2007. BellSouth indicates that it currently provides the following business services throughout the continental United States and Hawaii: BellSouth Dial Direct Service, BellSouth Toll Free Service, BellSouth Long Distance Calling Card Service, BellSouth Long Distance Voice VPN Service, BellSouth Long Distance Domestic Private Line, BellSouth Wavelength Service, BellSouth Special Access Service, and BellSouth Long Distance International Private Line Service. BellSouth states that, as a result of the acquisition of BellSouth Corporation and its affiliated companies by AT&T Inc., the combined entity now plans to streamline its business services portfolio. Accordingly, BellSouth indicates that it no longer plans to offer these services to new customers on or after April 27, 2007, subject to Commission authorization, and that it will continue to provide services to existing customers until their existing contracts expire or are terminated.1 BellSouth asserts, however, that these services will be provided by another affiliate of AT&T and that there are many alternative providers of business services. BellSouth indicates that it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. Mail on March 13, 2007. Finally, BellSouth asserts that it is non-dominant with respect to the services it proposes to discontinue. 1 Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2 In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, BellSouth’s application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the thirty-first (31st) day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies BellSouth that the grant will not be automatically effective. In BellSouth’s application and notice to its customers BellSouth indicates that it will no longer offer these services to new customers on or after April 27, 2007 and that it will not provide these services to existing customers beyond the expiration or termination of their existing contracts. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of BellSouth’s notice and application, absent further Commission action, BellSouth may terminate service on or after April 27, 2007 in accordance with its filed representations. 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 April 10, 2007. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 07-56 and Comp. Pol. File No. 784. 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. 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-