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 11-393 Released: February 28, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SBC LONG DISTANCE LLC D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE AND SNET AMERICA, INC. D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE EAST TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-37 Comp. Pol. File No. 980 Comments Due: March 15, 2011 Section 214 Application Applicants: SBC Long Distance LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance and SNET America, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long Distance East On February 4, 2011, SBC Long Distance LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance and SNET America, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long Distance East (collectively AT&T LD or Applicants), located at 2000 W. AT&T Center Drive – Z1, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192, 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 throughout the continental United States (including the District of Columbia), Alaska and Hawaii (collectively Service Areas). AT&T LD indicates that it currently provides Enhanced Toll Free Service, Dedicated Toll Free Service, International Toll Free Service, Dedicated Voice Access, Primary Rate Interface and Long Distance Virtual Private Network service (collectively the Affected Services) throughout the Service Areas. AT&T LD explains that Enhanced Toll Free Service, Dedicated Toll Free Service and International Toll Free Service provide a suite of complex toll free features and functionality for business customers with advanced toll free applications. AT&T LD further explains that Dedicated Voice Access provides a path between the Customer’s Premises/Customer’s Equipment and the Company-designated POP, with Bandwidth capacity of either 1.544 Mbps or 44.736 Mbps utilizing in-band signaling. AT&T LD states that its Primary Rate Interface provides high-speed end-to-end digital service with out-of-band signaling, and its Long Distance Virtual Private Network is an outbound-only long distance service that provides the functionality and capabilities of a private network through the use of shared transmission facilities. AT&T LD indicates, however, that AT&T continues to streamline its service portfolio as a result of the mergers of SBC Communications Inc. and AT&T Corp., and that the Affected Services are provided via legacy technology that is being replaced by the industry with IP technology. AT&T LD states that it, therefore, plans to discontinue offering the Affected Services to new customers in the Service Areas on or after March 31, 2011, subject to regulatory approval. AT&T LD further states that it plans to discontinue providing the Affected Services to existing customers on or after June 30, 2011 subject to Commission authorization. AT&T LD maintains that the public convenience and necessity will not be impaired by the proposed discontinuance because there are many alternative providers of these 2 services, including AT&T Corp. AT&T LD indicates that it notified existing customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. mail on February 2, 2011. AT&T LD asserts that the AT&T LD entities are non-dominant service providers. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, AT&T LD’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 AT&T LD that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application and notice to customers, AT&T LD indicates that it plans to discontinue offering the Affected Services to new customers on or after March 31, 2011, subject to regulatory approval. AT&T LD further indicates that it plans to discontinue providing the Affected Services to existing customers on or after June 30, 2011, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T LD’s application and notice, absent further Commission action, AT&T LD may cease to offer the Affected Services to new customers in the Service Areas on or after March 31, 2011, and may terminate the Affected Services to existing customers in the Service Areas on or after June 30, 2011 in accordance with its filed representations. 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 March 15, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-37 and Comp. Pol. File No. 980. 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 file an original and four copies 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 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 3 Applicants. 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 –