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 11-1972 Released: December 5, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SAGE TELECOM, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-197 Comp. Pol. File No. 1027 Comments Due: December 20, 2011 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sage Telecom, Inc. On November 25, 2011, Sage Telecom, Inc. (Sage or Applicant), located at 3300 E. Renner Road, Suite 350, Richardson, Texas 75082-2800, 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 St. Genevieve, Missouri (Service Area).1 By an amendment filed on December 2, 2011, Sage corrected certain deficiencies in its initial application and updated the record regarding notice to customers. Accordingly, Sage’s application is deemed complete as of December 2, 2011. Sage indicates that it currently provides retail local and long distance telecommunications services including intrastate, interstate and international services, as well as Internet services to twelve residential and business customers in the Service Area. Sage now proposes to discontinue these services in the Service Area on December 29, 2011.2 Sage, however, maintains that it will continue to provide telecommunications services in the remainder of its Missouri service territory and in a number of other states not affected by the present application. Sage indicates that, on November 16, 2011, it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance via letters sent by first-class mail in accordance with the requirements of section 63.71(a) of the Commission’s rules. Sage asserts that it is considered non-dominant with respect to the services to be discontinued. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Sage’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 Sage that the grant will not be automatically effective. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c), absent further Commission action, Sage may terminate its provision of local and long distance telecommunications services in the Service Area on or after January 5, 2012. The Commission 1 Sage’s application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on November 28, 2011. 2 Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2 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 December 20, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-197 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1027. 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 –