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 08-1564 Released: June 30, 2008 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 08-116 Comp. Pol. File No. 871 Comments Due: July 15, 2008 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P. On May 8, 2008, Sprint Communications Company L.P. (Sprint or Applicant), located at 6360 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, Kansas 66251, 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 throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (collectively Service Areas). By amendments filed June 6, 2008 and June 27, 2008, Sprint corrected certain deficiencies in its initial application and updated the record regarding notice to customers. Accordingly, Sprint’s application is deemed complete as of June 27, 2008. Sprint indicates that it currently provides 900 Transport Service in the Service Areas. Sprint explains that its 900 Transport Service is an inward calling service provided to subscribers who offer information to end users via 900 telephone numbers. Sprint states that it provided 900 Transport Service on a common carrier basis to a total of six customers at the time of the original filing of its application, and that the usage generated by those customers was de minimis. Sprint indicates that it now intends to discontinue its provision of this service in the Service Areas. According to Sprint, the anticipated date for the proposed discontinuance is on or after July 31, 2008, after which Sprint will no longer generally offer or provide this service. Sprint states, however, that it plans to continue to self-provision dedicated access facilities for transporting 900 traffic for the benefit of its Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). Sprint explains that this will facilitate access to 900 service providers for callers to the Sprint TRS center. Sprint states that it sent letters on April 30, 2008 to inform its six customers of its plans to discontinue service. Sprint indicates that service to one of the six customers referenced in its original application has since been terminated for non-payment, but that Sprint subsequently notified all of its remaining customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent in compliance with section 63.71(a) of the Commission’s rules as of June 13, 2008. Sprint indicates that it is considered non-dominant with respect to the service to be discontinued. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Sprint’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 Sprint that the grant will not be automatically effective. In Sprint’s application, 2 Sprint indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on or after July 31, 2008. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Sprint’s application, absent further Commission action, Sprint may terminate its 900 Transport Service in the Service Areas on or after July 31, 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 15, 2008. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 08-116 and Comp. Pol. File No. 871. 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. 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 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. – FCC –