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 12-1417 Released: August 29, 2012 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF CITIZENS LONG DISTANCE COMPANY TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 12-238 Comp. Pol. File No. 1050 Comments Due: September 13, 2012 Section 214 Application Applicant: Citizens Long Distance Company On August 10, 2012, Citizens Long Distance Company (Citizens or Applicant), located at 1905 Walnut Street, P.O. Box 737, Higginsville, Missouri 64037-0737, 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 a certain domestic telecommunications service in Missouri.1 Citizens indicates that it currently provides long distance calling card service to customers in Missouri. Citizens specifies that throughout the years it has issued calling cards to a total of 413 customers in Missouri with 42 customers in Corder, MO; 345 customers in Higginsville, MO and 26 customers in Mayview, MO (collectively, Affected Customers). Citizens explains, however, that it now plans to discontinue long distance calling card service in Missouri because, on June 13, 2012, it received notice that its underlying provider plans to discontinue service and Citizens has been unable to find a suitable replacement. Citizens asserts that the Affected Customers will not be harmed by the proposed discontinuance because the service is obsolete and none of the Affected Customers have used the service within the last year. Citizens indicates that on August 3, 2012 it sent written notice to the Affected Customers’ mailing addresses referencing a discontinuance on or about September 1, 2012, subject to Commission authorization. In its filing, Citizens suggests that the proposed discontinuance will occur on or about September 15, 2012. In any event, Citizens maintains that all customers will have received at least thirty days notice prior to the actual discontinuance of their service. Citizens represents that it is non-dominant with respect to the service it proposes to discontinue. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Citizens’ application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies Citizens that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its filing, Citizens indicates that it plans to discontinue long distance calling card service in Missouri on or about September 1 Citizens’ application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on August 23, 2012. 215, 2012, and in its letter to customers, on or about September 1, 2012, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c), absent further Commission action, Citizens may terminate its long distance calling card service in Missouri on or after September 29, 2012. 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. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before September 13, 2012. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 12-238 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1050. 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 may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: 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. This proceeding is considered a “permit but disclose” proceeding for purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules.2 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are 2 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 3deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 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 –