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 11-1263 Released: July 26, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES, INC. D/B/A CAUSEBOX TO DISCONTINUE INTERCONNECTED VOIP SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-127 Comp. Pol. File No. 999 Comments Due: August 10, 2011 On July 15, 2011, Advanced Communications Technology & Services, Inc. d/b/a CauseBox (CauseBox or Applicant), located at 777 Rivendell Lane, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004, 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 interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in Georgia.1 CauseBox indicates that it currently offers interconnected VoIP services to just one customer in the state of Georgia. CauseBox states that its interconnected VoIP services include local, intrastate, interstate and international calling. CauseBox explains that it enrolled only three VoIP phone lines as customers with proto-type field units in preparation for the rollout of its interconnected VoIP services in Georgia. CauseBox states that its own offices constituted two of those lines and that it has had only one customer located in the state of Georgia. CauseBox submits, however, that delays beyond its control in bringing the product to market resulted in its targeted pricing being obsolete prior to rollout, so it now plans to discontinue its provision of interconnected VoIP services to its single customer in Georgia and cease operations entirely on July 30, 2011, subject to Commission approval.2 CauseBox maintains, however, that it has made arrangements with its wholesale VoIP provider, OneStream Networks, LLC (OneStream), to provide that all services to the customer be transitioned to OneStream so that there will not be any disruption in service upon CauseBox’s discontinuance. CauseBox states that it sent notification letters dated July 7, 2011 to the affected customer regarding the proposed discontinuance. CauseBox asserts that notice was sent in accordance with the requirements of section 63.71(a) of the Commission’s rules by letter and also by electronic mail. CauseBox indicates that it plans to discontinue interconnected VoIP services and understands that the application will be processed under the Commission’s rules for non-dominant providers. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, CauseBox’s application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the 1 CauseBox’s application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on July 18, 2011. 2 Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2 Commission notifies CauseBox that the grant will not be automatically effective. In the application and customer notice, CauseBox indicates that it plans to discontinue interconnected VoIP services in Georgia on July 30, 2011, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c), absent further Commission action, CauseBox may terminate its provision of interconnected VoIP services and discontinue its operations in Georgia on or after August 26, 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 be filed with the Commission on or before August 10, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-127 and Comp. Pol. File No. 999. 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://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. 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 who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. 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. All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters 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 and boxes 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, Express, and Priority mail must 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 3 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 –