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 07-4248 Released: October 12, 2007 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SBC LONG DISTANCE, LLC D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 07-229 Comp. Pol. File No. 838 Comments Due: October 29, 2007 Section 214 Application Applicant: SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance On September 25, 2007, SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance (SBC LD or Applicant), located at 1010 N. Saint Mary’s Street, #13L, San Antonio, TX 78215, 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 the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii and the District of Columbia. SBC LD, an affiliate of AT&T Inc., indicates that it currently provides Dedicated Voice Access (DVA), Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN (PRI)), and Dedicated Toll Free Service (DTFS) in the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii and the District of Columbia. SBC LD explains that DVA provides dedicated access to voice trunking, and DVA transport carries calls made on voice trunks bypassing the local switch. SBC LD further explains that ISDN (PRI) service is a channelized access line that provides Q931 signaling between the SBC LD point of presence and the customer premise equipment, and DTFS is in-bound toll free long distance calling over dedicated access lines facilities. SBC LD indicates that, as a result of the acquisition of AT&T Corp. and its subsidiaries by SBC Communications Inc., the combined entity is streamlining its services portfolio. Accordingly, SBC LD states that it no longer plans to offer these services to new customers in the 48 contiguous states, Hawaii and the District of Columbia on or after November 12, 2007, subject to Commission authorization. SBC LD further states that it will continue to provide services to existing customers until their existing contracts expire or are terminated. SBC LD maintains that AT&T plans to offer a comparable suite of services to affected customers through another AT&T affiliate, and that there are many alternative providers of business services, including but not limited to SBC LD’s affiliate, AT&T Corp. SBC LD states that it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. Mail on September 24, 2007. Finally, SBC LD asserts that it is non-dominant with respect to the services it proposes to discontinue. 2 In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, SBC LD’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 SBC LD that the grant will not be automatically effective. In SBC LD’s application and notice to customers, SBC LD indicates that it will no longer offer this service to new customers on or after November 12th, subject to Commission authorization, and that it will continue to provide service to its existing customers until their existing contracts expire or are terminated. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of SBC LD’s application and notice, absent further Commission action, SBC LD may cease to offer service to new customers on or after November 12, 2007, and may terminate service to affected customers in accordance with its filed representations. 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 October 29, 2007. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 07-229 and Comp. Pol. File No. 838. 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. 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-