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 07-4127 Released: October 2, 2007 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T INC. ON BEHALF OF SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T ARKANSAS, AT&T KANSAS, AT&T MISSOURI, AT&T OKLAHOMA AND AT&T TEXAS TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 07-216 Comp. Pol. File No. 835 Comments Due: November 1, 2007 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Inc. on behalf of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Arkansas, AT&T Kansas, AT&T Missouri, AT&T Oklahoma and AT&T Texas On September 21, 2007, AT&T Inc. (AT&T Inc. or Applicant) filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on behalf of its incumbent local exchange carrier affiliate, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Arkansas, AT&T Kansas, AT&T Missouri, AT&T Oklahoma and AT&T Texas (AT&T), located at One AT&T Plaza, 208 S. Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75202, 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 certain domestic telecommunications services in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas. AT&T Inc. indicates that AT&T currently offers Designated Operator Services (DOS) throughout its five state territory.1 AT&T Inc. explains that DOS service provides operator service functionality for third party carrier customers. Specifically, AT&T Inc. explains that when end user customers of a carrier that subscribes to DOS dial 0+ or 00- to reach an operator, DOS provides a combination of automated and operator-assisted services for the carrier customer’s end users, including but not limited to assisting callers wanting to make collect calls, calls billed to a third number, or calls billed to a calling card. AT&T Inc. states that, with DOS, assistance would also be provided for those customers having difficulty dialing direct, which could include interstate and international calls. AT&T Inc. maintains that AT&T does not currently have any customers subscribing to this service. AT&T Inc. indicates that AT&T therefore plans to discontinue this service on December 1, 2007 due to lack of 1 AT&T Inc. states that DOS is offered pursuant to AT&T’s FCC Tariff No. 73. 2 demand.2 AT&T Inc. asserts that the public convenience and necessity will not be adversely affected by the proposed discontinuance because there is currently no demand for this service and there are ample competitive alternatives for operator services. AT&T Inc. asserts that AT&T is a non-dominant carrier with respect to the service to be discontinued, but acknowledges that this application will be processed using the Commission’s rules for dominant carriers. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, AT&T Inc.’s application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the sixtieth (60th) day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies AT&T Inc. that the grant will not be automatically effective. In AT&T Inc.’s application, AT&T Inc. indicates that AT&T plans to discontinue the affected service on December 1, 2007. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T Inc.’s application, absent further Commission action, AT&T may cease to offer this service in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas on December 1, 2007. The Commission normally will 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 November 1, 2007. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 07-216 and Comp. Pol. File No. 835. 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. 2 Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 3 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). For further information, contact Carmell Weathers, (202) 418-2325 (voice), carmell.weathers@fcc.gov, or Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), kimberly.jackson@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-