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 08-1459 Released: June 20, 2008 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC., VERIZON NORTH INC., VERIZON NORTHWEST INC., VERIZON SOUTH INC., AND GTE SOUTHWEST INCORPORATED (D/B/A VERIZON SOUTHWEST) TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 08-87 Comp. Pol. File No. 873 Comments Due: July 7, 2008 Section 214 Application Applicants: Verizon California Inc., Verizon North Inc., Verizon Northwest Inc., Verizon South Inc., and GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest) On May 21, 2008, Verizon California Inc., located at 112 Lakeview Canyon Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; Verizon North Inc., located at 8001 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46804; Verizon Northwest Inc., located at 1800 41st Street, Everett, WA 98201; Verizon South Inc., located at 201 N. Franklin St., One Tampa City Center, Tampa, FL 33602; and GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest), located at 600 Hidden Ridge, HQE04H12, Irving, TX 75038 (collectively Verizon or Applicants), 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 Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, areas of Pennsylvania within Verizon North Inc.’s operating territory, and areas of Virginia within Verizon South Inc.’s operating territory. Verizon indicates that it provides Customer Dialed Calling Card Station Service as (1) an interstate intraLATA service in Arizona, California, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, areas of Pennsylvania within Verizon North Inc.’s operating territory, and areas of Virginia within Verizon South Inc.’s operating territory and (2) an interstate intraMarket service in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, and Washington (collectively Service Areas). Verizon explains that this service allows customers to place calls to points within a LATA or market area using a calling card linked to their billing account, and that unrestricted cards associated with this service could also be used for international calls. Verizon states, however, that it now intends to discontinue its provision of Customer Dialed Calling Card Station Service in the Service Areas.1 Verizon indicates that it does not have any customers for this service in the relevant markets and that the anticipated date for the proposed discontinuance is on or after July 21, 2008. Verizon states that it is considered non-dominant with respect to this service. 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, Verizon’s application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies Verizon that the grant will not be automatically effective. In Verizon’s application, Verizon indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on or after July 21, 2008. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Verizon’s application, absent further Commission action, Verizon may terminate its Customer Dialed Calling Card Station Service in the Service Areas on or after July 21, 2008. 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 7, 2008. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 08-87 and Comp. Pol. File No. 873. 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 Applicants. 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, 3 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 Matt Warner, (202) 418-2419 (voice), matthew.warner@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 –