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 10-2403 Released: December 22, 2010 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SHENTEL CONVERGED SERVICES, INC. D/B/A NTC COMMUNICATIONS TO DISCONTINUE INTERCONNECTED VOIP SERVICES WC Docket No. 10-257 Comp. Pol. File No. 967 Comments Due: January 6, 2011 On December 9, 2010, Shentel Converged Services, Inc. d/b/a NTC Communications (NTC or Applicant), located at P.O. Box 459, Edinburg, VA 22824, 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 a certain interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service in Blacksburg, Virginia. NTC indicates that it currently provides an interconnected VoIP service to customers in Blacksburg, Virginia that includes local and long distance voice services and ancillary services provided over a broadband connection. NTC states that it now plans to discontinue this service on January 28, 2011. NTC maintains that other services that it offers to customers in the Blacksburg area and services that it offers outside of the Blacksburg area will be unaffected by the proposed discontinuance. NTC also asserts that the impact of the planned discontinuance on the public will be minimal because only thirty- one residential customers and no business customers will be affected by the proposed discontinuance. NTC maintains that it notified all affected customers of the planned discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. Mail on December 7, 2010. NTC states that, in its notification letters, it offered to assist customers in finding a new service provider and provided a toll-free number for this purpose. NTC indicates that it would be considered non-dominant with respect to the interconnected VoIP service it plans to discontinue. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, NTC’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 NTC that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its notice to customers, NTC indicates that it anticipates discontinuing service on January 28, 2011, subject to regulatory approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of NTC’s notice, absent further Commission action, NTC may terminate its provision of interconnected VoIP service in Blacksburg, Virginia on or after January 28, 2011. 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 2 be filed with the Commission on or before January 6, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 10-257 and Comp. Pol. File No. 967. 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. 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). 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 –