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 07-3377 July 23, 2007 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 07-145 Comp. Pol. File No. 803 Comments Due: August 7, 2007 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Communications of New England, Inc. On May 24, 2007, AT&T Communications of New England, Inc. (AT&T or Applicant), located at PO Box 430, Bedminster, NJ 07921-0430, 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 Connecticut. AT&T indicates that it currently provides interstate residential local exchange service to customers in Connecticut. AT&T explains that this service is basic telephone exchange service that allows customers to make local calls within a local exchange, which includes local calling areas that cross state boundary lines. AT&T states that it plans to discontinue this service throughout its service area in Connecticut on or after August 23, 2007, subject to Commission authorization. AT&T maintains that there are many alternative providers of local exchange telephone services in the affected area, including but not limited to Cox, Cablevision, Comcast and the AT&T incumbent LEC affiliate, AT&T Connecticut. AT&T states that affected customers also should not experience any loss in service because AT&T plans to automatically migrate the affected customers to its affiliate unless the customers elect to receive local exchange service from another provider. AT&T represents that it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. Mail on May 21, 2007. Finally, AT&T asserts that it is non-dominant with respect to the service it proposes to discontinue. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, AT&T’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 AT&T that the grant will not be automatically effective. In AT&T’s application and notice to its customers, AT&T indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on or after August 23, 2007. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application and notice, absent further Commission action, AT&T may terminate service in Connecticut on or after August 23, 2007. The Commission will normally authorize proposed discontinuances of 2 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 August 7, 2007. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 07-145 and Comp. Pol. File No. 803. 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. 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. 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). 3 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-