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 08-179 Released: January 28, 2008 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T INC. ON BEHALF OF CERTAIN OF ITS AFFILIATES TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 08-11 Comp. Pol. File No. 853 Comments Due: February 27, 2008 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Inc. on behalf of Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc., Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Nevada Bell Telephone Company, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, Pacific Bell Telephone Company, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and Wisconsin Bell, Inc. On January 9, 2008, AT&T Inc. (AT&T or Applicant), located at One AT&T Plaza, Dallas, Texas 75202, filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on behalf of certain of its affiliates, Illinois Bell Telephone Company, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc., Michigan Bell Telephone Company, Nevada Bell Telephone Company, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, Pacific Bell Telephone Company, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and Wisconsin Bell, Inc. (the AT&T Affiliates), 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 tariffed services throughout the geographic areas served by the AT&T Affiliates. By an amendment filed January 25, 2008, AT&T provided clarification regarding notice to affected customers. AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates offer a directory listing service under the names DirectLine Custom, Ameritech Directory Search, Electronic Directory Listing Service and Electronic Listing Access service in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.1 AT&T explains that these services provide electronic access to the AT&T Affiliates’ directory listings database without the assistance of a directory assistance operator. AT&T indicates that it is upgrading the technology associated with these services and that the functionality that allows access to the directory listings database will no longer be available as a result of 1 AT&T states that the AT&T Affiliates offer these services pursuant to the terms of the following tariffs: DirectLine Custom service is offered in Southwestern Bell FCC Tariff No. 73, Section 17; Ameritech Directory Search is offered in the Ameritech Operating Companies FCC Tariff No.2, Section 9; Electronic Directory Listing Service is offered in Pacific Bell FCC Tariff No. 128, Section 9.7; and Electronic Listing Access Service is offered in Nevada Bell Telephone Company FCC Tariff No. 1, Section 9.7. 2 these upgrades. Consequently, AT&T states that is plans to discontinue these services effective March 28, 2008, subject to Commission approval. AT&T maintains that it instead will offer access to its directory listings databases through comparable Internet-accessible products, e.g., National Electronic Information Service and National Listing Match Service, which are based on more current technology and have more robust searching options. In addition, AT&T asserts that there are many competitive providers of electronic directory listing services in the AT&T region which include www.voltdelta.com, www.choicepoint.com, and www.anywho.com. AT&T indicates that Southwestern Bell Telephone Company notified its customers of its intention to discontinue DirectLine Custom service on January 8, 2008. AT&T adds that none of the other affiliates currently have any customers subscribing to any of the other services they plan to discontinue. AT&T 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’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 AT&T’s application, AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue the affected services on March 28, 2008, subject to Commission approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application, absent further Commission action, the AT&T Affiliates may terminate these services in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin on March 28, 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 February 27, 2008. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 08-11 and Comp. Pol. File No. 853. 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 3 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-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. – FCC –