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 12-950 Released: June 15, 2012 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T SERVICES, INC. ON BEHALF OF SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T SOUTHWEST AND THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE COMPANY D/B/A AT&T CONNECTICUT TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 12-154 Comp. Pol. File No. 1043 Comments Due: July 16, 2012 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Services, Inc. on behalf of Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Southwest and The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut On May 30, 2012, AT&T Services, Inc. (AT&T or Applicant) filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on behalf of its affiliates, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Southwest (AT&T Southwest) and The Southern New England Telephone Company d/b/a AT&T Connecticut (AT&T Connecticut), located at 300 S. Brevard Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, 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 AT&T service territories in Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas (collectively Service Areas).1 AT&T indicates that AT&T Southwest and AT&T Connecticut (collectively the AT&T Affiliates) currently offer Business Video services including Business Video 1 (BV1), Business Video 2 (BV2) and Business Video 3 (BV3) service throughout the Service Areas. AT&T explains that BV1 is a digital channel capable of two-way, two-point video and audio transmission. AT&T specifies that BV1 provides a video channel with two-way transmission capability for a standard 525-line/60-field monochrome, or National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) color, System M video signal. AT&T further specifies that the service is provided at a bandwidth of 384 kbps and includes one associated audio signal in the 7 kHz range. AT&T submits that the service is visually comparable to broadcast quality video but has less stringent technical parameters and has some noticeable motion impairment. AT&T explains that BV2 provides the same functionality as BV1 but at a higher bandwidth of 1.544 Mbps. AT&T states that BV3 service provides a digitized channel for one or two-way transmission of a standard 525-line/60-field monochrome, or NTSC color, System M video signal, and that it includes two 1 AT&T’s application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on May 31, 2012. 2associated 15 KHz audio signals. AT&T specifies that the bandwidths for BV3 service are 30 Hz to 6.6 MHz and 30 Hz to 4.5 MHz, respectively. AT&T indicates that BV1 and BV2 services are offered in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas while BV3 service is offered only in Connecticut. AT&T states, however, that the AT&T Affiliates currently do not have any customers that subscribe to the services and that they consequently plan to discontinue the services due to a lack of demand. Specifically, AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue BV1, BV2 and BV3 services in the Service Areas on August 15, 2012, subject to Commission approval. AT&T maintains that the public convenience and necessity will not be adversely affected by the proposed discontinuance because there are competing advanced video transport services available in the marketplace from AT&T and other carriers including AT&T’s Broadcast Video Service (TV1). AT&T acknowledges that this 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, AT&T indicates that the AT&T Affiliates plan to discontinue BV1, BV2 and BV3 services in the Service Areas on August 15, 2012, subject to Commission approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application, absent further Commission action, the AT&T Affiliates may discontinue BV1, BV2 and BV3 services in the Service Areas on or after August 15, 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 July 16, 2012. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 12-154 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1043. 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. 3This 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 deemed 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 – 2 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq.