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 12-554 Released: April 6, 2012 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF SIGECOM, LLC D/B/A WOW! INTERNET, CABLE AND PHONE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 12-81 Comp. Pol. File No. 1033 Comments Due: April 23, 2012 Section 214 Application Applicant: Sigecom, LLC d/b/a WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone On March 12, 2012, Sigecom, LLC d/b/a WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone (Sigecom or Applicant), located at 6045 Wedeking Avenue, Evansville, IN 47715, 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 certain domestic telecommunications services in the City of Evansville, the Town of Chandler, the Town of Newburgh, Vanderburgh County and Warrick County, IN (collectively, Service Areas). Sigecom states that it currently provides circuit switched local exchange and domestic and international long distance services to residential and commercial customers receiving service in the Service Areas via the Nortel Cornerstone platform. Sigecom explains, however, that it has revised its business plan and has decided to discontinue these services because the technology used to provide these services is now obsolete. Sigecom explains further that it plans to discontinue these services in phases over approximately the next nine months beginning with the discontinuance that is the subject of the current application and is scheduled to occur on or after May 8, 2012, subject to Commission approval.1 Sigecom maintains that the planned discontinuance will not adversely affect the public convenience and necessity because customers have been given notice that affords them ample opportunity to either migrate to Sigecom’s interconnected VoIP service at substantially the same price as the current services, or to transfer to a new provider. Sigecom asserts that the services that are being discontinued are readily available from other carriers. Sigecom indicates that on or about February 15, 2012 it mailed written notice of the planned discontinuance to commercial customers affected by this first phase (Affected Commercial Customers). Sigecom further indicates that on or about March 6, 2012 it mailed written notice of the planned discontinuance to residential customers affected by the first phase (Affected Residential Customers). Sigecom submits that it plans to mail similar letters more than 30 days prior to the planned discontinuance of service to any customers affected by future phases of its overall plan. Sigecom represents that it is non-dominant with respect to the services it proposes to discontinue. 1 Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2 In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Sigecom’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 Sigecom that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application, Sigecom indicates that it plans to discontinue circuit switched local exchange and domestic and international long distance services to its residential and commercial customers receiving service in the Service Areas via the Nortel Cornerstone platform on or after May 8, 2012, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c), absent further Commission action, Sigecom may terminate circuit switched local exchange and domestic long distance services to the Affected Commercial Customers and the Affected Residential Customers in the Service Areas on or after May 8, 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. 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 April 23, 2012. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 12-81 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1033. 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 3 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 –