PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 08-1292 Released: June 2, 2008 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T CONNECTICUT TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 08-76 Comp. Pol. File No. 872 Comments Due: July 2, 2008 Section 214 Application Applicant: The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut On May 13, 2008, The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut, located at 26 Washington Street, New London, CT 06320 (AT&T or Applicant), 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 provides Internet Network Access Service (INAS) throughout its service territory in Connecticut.1 AT&T explains that INAS is a seven digit, single number, one-way local exchange access service that utilizes a dedicated network for dial-up Internet applications only. AT&T states that it offers this service to competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) who resell the service to dial-up Internet Service Providers (ISPs). AT&T indicates that all calls made to an INAS exchange are routed directly to AT&T’s Internet Overlay Network switch and forwarded to the ISP for Internet Processing. AT&T states, however, that due to a lack of demand it plans to no longer offer INAS to new customers on or after August 1, 2008, subject to Commission authorization. AT&T maintains that it will continue to provide this service to existing customers until their contracts expire or they are migrated to another service offering. AT&T asserts that the public convenience and necessity will not be harmed by this discontinuance of service because CLECs and ISPs may obtain the same service functionality by purchasing Integrated Services Digital Network Primary Rate Interface (ISDN PRI) service in each local calling area, or by subleasing Wholesale Roaming from AT&T or an ISP. Furthermore, AT&T states that ISDN PRI service is available from a variety of providers, including AT&T and CLECs. AT&T indicates that it notified each customer of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. mail on May 12, 2008. Finally, AT&T represents that it is considered a dominant carrier with respect to the service to be discontinued. 1 AT&T states that INAS is offered pursuant to FCC Tariff No. 39, Section No. 22. 2 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 60th day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies AT&T that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application and notice to customers, AT&T indicates that it plans to no longer offer this service to new customers on or after August 1, 2008, subject to Commission authorization, and that it will continue to provide service to existing customers until their contracts expire or they are migrated to another service offering. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application and notice to customers, absent further Commission action, AT&T may cease to offer INAS to new customers in Connecticut on or after August 1, 2008, 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 July 2, 2008. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 08-76 and Comp. Pol. File No. 872. 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 Web site 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 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 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-C140, 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. 3 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. – FCC –