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 13-2042 Released: October 22, 2013 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF VERIZON NEW YORK INC., VERIZON NEW ENGLAND INC., VERIZON NEW JERSEY INC., VERIZON PENNSYLVANIA LLC, VERIZON DELAWARE LLC, VERIZON MARYLAND LLC, VERIZON VIRGINIA LLC, AND VERIZON WASHINGTON, DC INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 13-227 Comp. Pol. File No. 1123 Comments Due: November 21, 2013 Section 214 Application Applicants: Verizon New York Inc., Verizon New England Inc., Verizon New Jersey Inc., Verizon Pennsylvania LLC, Verizon Delaware LLC, Verizon Maryland LLC, Verizon Virginia LLC and Verizon Washington, DC Inc. On September 3, 2013 Verizon New York Inc., located at 140 West Street, New York, NY 10007; Verizon New England Inc., located at 125 High Street – Oliver Tower 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02110; Verizon New Jersey Inc., located at 540 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102; Verizon Pennsylvania LLC, located at 1717 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103; Verizon Delaware LLC, located at 901 Tatnall Street, Wilmington, DE 19801; Verizon Maryland LLC, located at 1 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202; Verizon Virginia LLC, located at 22001 Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn, VA 20147; and Verizon Washington, DC Inc., located at 1300 I Street, N.W., Suite 400 West, Washington, D.C. 20005 (collectively Verizon or Applicants), filed a joint 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 throughout Verizon’s service territory in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for DOVPATH (collectively DOVPATH Service Areas); Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for Wideband Analog (collectively Wideband Analog Service Areas); and Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for Wideband Data (collectively Wideband Data Service Areas). The application indicates that Verizon currently offers DOVPATH in the DOVPATH Service Areas, Wideband Analog in the Wideband Analog Service Areas, and Wideband Data in the Wideband Data Service Areas. Verizon describes DOVPATH as a service that provides an analog channel for both synchronous and asynchronous data transmission.1 Verizon defines Wideband Analog as a service that 1 Verizon states that DOVPATH is described in Verizon’s FCC Tariff No. 11, Section 7.2.12. 2provides an analog channel with a bandwidth measured in kHz for the transmission of a wideband signal.2 Verizon explains that Wideband Data provides an analog channel for the transmission of synchronous serial data or asynchronous serial data.3 Verizon states that it plans to discontinue DOVPATH, Wideband Analog and Wideband Data in their respective Service Areas on or after December 19, 2013, pending Commission authorization. Verizon indicates that it plans to discontinue these services because they are outdated and customers no longer use or want them. In fact, Verizon notes that no customers currently subscribe to DOVPATH, Wideband Analog or Wideband Data and, therefore, there are no affected customers that require notice. Verizon asserts that it is considered dominant with respect to the services to be discontinued. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Verizon’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 Verizon that the grant will not be automatically effective. In the application and notice to customers, Verizon indicates that on or after December 19, 2013 and subject to Commission authorization, Verizon plans to discontinue DOVPATH, Wideband Analog and Wideband Data in their respective Service Areas. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Verizon’s application, absent further Commission action, Verizon may discontinue DOVPATH, Wideband Analog and Wideband Data in their respective Service Areas on or after December 21, 2013, in accordance with Verizon’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. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before November 21, 2013. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 13-227 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1123. 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. 2 Verizon notes that Wideband Analog is described in Verizon’s FCC Tariff No. 1, Section 7.2.6 and in Verizon’s FCC Tariff No. 11 Section 7.2.6. 3 Verizon states that Wideband Data is described in Verizon’s FCC Tariff No.1, Sections 7.2.7 and 10.8.1 and in Verizon’s FCC Tariff No. 11. Sections 7.2.7 and 10.8.1. 3Two 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 Applicants. 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.4 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 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 – 4 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq.