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 10-1893 Released: September 30, 2010 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC., VERIZON FLORIDA LLC, GTE SOUTHWEST INCORPORATED (D/B/A VERIZON SOUTHWEST), VERIZON SOUTH INC. AND VERIZON NORTH RETAIN CO. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 10-194 Comp. Pol. File No. 954 Comments Due: November 1, 2010 Section 214 Application Applicants: Verizon California Inc., Verizon Florida LLC, GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest), Verizon South Inc. and Verizon North Retain Co. On September 7, 2010, Verizon California Inc., located at 112 Lakeview Canyon Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; Verizon Florida LLC, located at 201 North Franklin Street, One Tampa City Center, Tampa, FL 33602; GTE Southwest Incorporated (d/b/a Verizon Southwest), located at 600 Hidden Ridge, Irving, TX 75038; Verizon South Inc., located at 703 East Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219; and Verizon North Retain Co., located at 600 Hidden Ridge, HQE03H09, 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 Verizon’s remaining service territory in the former Contel areas of California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia (former Contel areas) and in Verizon’s remaining service territory in the former GTE areas of California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia (former GTE areas) (collectively Service Areas). Verizon indicates that it currently offers Special Access Wideband Data services in the former Contel areas. Verizon states that it also provides Special Access Wideband Analog services in the former Contel and GTE areas. Verizon indicates that these services are offered under Verizon’s FCC Tariff Nos. 14 or 16. Verizon explains that Special Access Wideband Data service provides dedicated facilities between customer designated premises or between a customer designated premise and a Telephone Company hub for the transmission of synchronous serial data at the rate of 18.75 kbps, 19.2 kbps, 40.8 kbps, 50.0 kbps or 230.4 kbps, or asynchronous serial data at rates of up to 19.2 kbps, 50.0 kbps or 230.4 kbps. Verizon further explains that Special Access Wideband Analog services provide a circuit between two customer designated premises or locations, or between a customer designated premise or location and a Telephone Company hub. Verizon specifies that its Special Access Wideband Analog services provide for the transmission of wideband signals at bandwidths from 60 to 108 kHz (Group), 312 to 552 kHz (Supergroup), 564 to 3084 kHz (Mastergroup), 300 Hz to 18 kHz, 29 kHz to 44 kHz, or 28kHz to 44 kHz. Verizon states that it plans to discontinue its Special Access Wideband Data services and Special Access 2 Wideband Analog services in the Service Areas as appropriate on or after December 2, 2010, subject to regulatory approval. Verizon asserts that suppliers have discontinued manufacturing the equipment required to provision these services, and as a result parts are no longer readily available. Verizon, however, maintains that the public convenience and necessity will not be impaired by the proposed discontinuance because currently there are no customers for these services in the Service Areas. In addition, Verizon asserts that Verizon and other providers offer alternative services including Special Access Voice Grade, Digital Data, and Special Access High Capacity (DS1 and DS3 services) as a replacement for Special Access Wideband Data service, and Special Access High Capacity DS3 service as a replacement for Special Access Wideband Analog service. Verizon states that it is considered dominant with respect to the services to be discontinued. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Verizon’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 Verizon that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application, Verizon indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on or after December 2, 2010, subject to regulatory approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Verizon’s application, absent further Commission action, Verizon may terminate its Special Access Wideband Data services and Special Access Wideband Analog services in the Service Areas as appropriate on or after December 2, 2010. 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 November 1, 2010. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 10-194 and Comp. Pol. File No. 954. 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. Effective December 28, 2009, the Commission’s contractor will only receive hand-delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at the FCC Headquarters building, located at 445 12th Street, S.W., Room TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. The filing hours are Monday through Friday, 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. 3 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, 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. – FCC –