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 11-1501 Released: September 2, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SHENTEL CABLE COMPANY D/B/A SHENTEL TO DISCONTINUE INTERCONNECTED VOIP SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-134 Comp. Pol. File No. 1001 Comments Due: September 19, 2011 On July 28, 2011, Shentel Cable Company d/b/a Shentel (Shentel or Applicant), located at P.O. Box 459, Edinburg, Virginia 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 Virginia.1 Shentel indicates that it currently provides interconnected VoIP service to residential customers located in Dickenson County, Virginia (Service Area). Shentel explains that its interconnected VoIP service provides local and long distance voice services, and ancillary services, over a broadband connection. Shentel asserts that it now intends to discontinue its provision of interconnected VoIP service in the Service Area on or before October 1, 2011. Shentel maintains, however, that the impact of the planned discontinuance on the public will be minimal because only seven residential customers will be affected by the proposed discontinuance, and there are no affected business customers. In addition, Shentel submits that other services that it offers to customers in the Service Area and services that it offers outside of the Service Area will be unaffected by the proposed discontinuance. Shentel asserts that it sent notification letters regarding the proposed discontinuance to each affected customer in accordance with the requirements of section 63.71(a) of the Commission’s rules via U.S. Mail on July 27, 2011. Shentel 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. Shentel asserts 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, Shentel’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 Shentel that the grant will not be automatically effective. In the customer notice, Shentel indicates that it plans to discontinue interconnected VoIP service to all affected customers in the Service Area on October 1, 2011, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Shentel’s notice, absent further Commission action, Shentel may terminate its provision of interconnected VoIP service in the Service Area on or after October 3, 2011. The Commission normally will authorize proposed discontinuances of service unless it is shown that 1 This application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on August 3, 2011. 2 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 September 19, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-134 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1001. 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 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 –