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 11-2024 Released: December 16, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SHENTEL CABLE COMPANY D/B/A SHENTEL TO DISCONTINUE INTERCONNECTED VOIP SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-201 Comp. Pol. File No. 1024 Comments Due: January 3, 2012 On November 15, 2011, Shentel Cable Company d/b/a Shentel (Shentel 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 Raleigh County, West Virginia (Service Area).1 Shentel indicates that it currently provides interconnected VoIP service to residential customers in the Service Area. Shentel explains that its interconnected VoIP service provides local and long distance voice services and ancillary services via a broadband connection. Shentel indicates, however, that it plans to discontinue its provision of this service in the Service Area on January 16, 2012, subject to Commission authorization. Shentel maintains that the planned discontinuance will have minimal impact on the public because there are currently only six residential customers receiving the service, and there are no affected business customers. Shentel emphasizes that the planned discontinuance will not affect other services that Shentel offers to customers in the Service Area, and that it will not affect services offered by Shentel to customers outside of the Service Area. Shentel represents that it notified all affected customers of the planned discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. mail on November 15, 2011. Shentel indicates that it offered to assist customers in finding a new service provider and provided a toll-free number for this purpose in its notification letters. Shentel states that it is non-dominant with respect to the service to be discontinued. 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 its interconnected VoIP service to all affected customers in the Service Area on January 16, 2012, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Shentel’s notice, absent further Commission action, Shentel may cease to provide its interconnected VoIP service to customers in the Service Area on or after January 16, 2012. 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 November 28, 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 January 3, 2012. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-201 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1024. 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 Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), kimberly.jackson@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 –