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 11-975 Released: May 31, 2011 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T INC. ON BEHALF OF ILLINOIS BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T ILLINOIS, INDIANA BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY, INC. D/B/A AT&T INDIANA, MICHIGAN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T MICHIGAN, THE OHIO BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T OHIO, THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T CONNECTICUT AND WISCONSIN BELL, INC. D/B/A AT&T WISCONSIN TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 11-94 Comp. Pol. File No. 991 Comments Due: June 30, 2011 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Inc. on behalf of Illinois Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Illinois, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Indiana, Michigan Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Michigan, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Ohio, The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut and Wisconsin Bell, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Wisconsin On May 17, 2011, AT&T Inc. (AT&T or Applicant) filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on behalf of its affiliates, Illinois Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Illinois, Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Indiana, Michigan Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Michigan, The Ohio Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Ohio, The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut and Wisconsin Bell, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Wisconsin (AT&T Affiliates), located at 2600 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA 94583, 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 certain domestic telecommunications services throughout the AT&T service territories in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin (collectively Service Areas). AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates currently offer Multichannel Video Service (MVS) in the Service Areas. AT&T explains that MVS is a point to point video hub service which provides transmission of up to sixteen video signals and up to four associated audio channels per video signal. AT&T states, however, that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue MVS due to a lack of demand. AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue offering new arrangements for MVS effective August 1, 2011, subject to Commission approval of this application. AT&T clarifies that MVS will continue to be provided to existing customers in accordance with the terms of their contracts until their contracts expire. AT&T explains that services then will continue to be provided on a month-to- month basis for customers without a contract and may be discontinued on or after March 28, 2015, subject to Commission approval of this application. AT&T maintains that the public convenience and 2 necessity will not be harmed by the proposed discontinuance because there are competing advanced video transport services in the marketplace including AT&T’s Serial Component Video Service and TV1 Analog Video Service. AT&T asserts that it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by letters mailed via U.S. mail on May 13, 2011. AT&T acknowledges that its application will be processed under the Commission’s rules for dominant carriers. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, AT&T’s application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the 60th day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies AT&T that the grant will not be automatically effective. In the application and notice to customers, AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue offering new arrangements for MVS on or after August 1, 2011, subject to Commission approval of this application. AT&T further indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue MVS to existing customers on or after March 28, 2015, subject to Commission approval of this application. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application and notice to customers, absent further Commission action, the AT&T Affiliates may cease to offer new arrangements for MVS in the Service Areas on or after August 1, 2011, and may terminate service to existing MVS customers in the Service Areas on or after March 28, 2015, in accordance with AT&T’s 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 June 30, 2011. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 11-94 and Comp. Pol. File No. 991. 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, 3 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 –