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 13-2261 Released: November 25, 2013 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF ABS-CBN TELECOM, NORTH AMERICA INCORPORATED TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 13-294 Comp. Pol. File No. 1129 Comments Due: December 10, 2013 Section 214 Application Applicant: ABS-CBN Telecom, North America Incorporated On October 18, 2013, ABS-CBN Telecom, North America Incorporated (ABS-CBN or Applicant), located at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, California 94065-1400, 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 Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas (collectively, Service Areas).1 ABS-CBN indicates that it currently offers Long Distance Direct (LDD) service (Affected Service) to customers in the Service Areas. ABS-CBN describes its LDD service as a post-billed, long distance Dial-Around service for domestic and international long distance calling. ABS-CBN explains that, in order for the service to function, customers must have a pre-subscribed local and long distance carrier, and that those customers may then use LDD service to bypass their presubscribed service provider. ABS-CBN indicates, however, that it plans to discontinue its provision of LDD service in the Service Areas on January 1, 2014.2 According to ABS-CBN, discontinuance of the Affected Service will not have an impact on a customer’s ability to place telephone calls with its existing provider of domestic and international long distance services because LDD service does not supplant such services. ABS-CBN maintains that customers also will not be adversely affected by the proposed discontinuance because they will be able to choose from widely available alternatives for domestic and international long distance service. ABS-CBN asserts that written notice of the proposed discontinuance was sent to affected customers by first class mail on October 15, 2013. ABS-CBN states that it is considered non-dominant with respect to the service to be discontinued. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, ABS-CBN’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 ABS-CBN that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application, 1 The application was subsequently received in the Competition Policy Division of the Wireline Competition Bureau on November 12, 2013. 2 The discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R § 63.19. 2ABS-CBN indicates that it plans to discontinue LDD service in the Service Areas on January 1, 2014. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of ABS-CBN’s application, absent further Commission action, ABS-CBN may discontinue the Affected Service in the Service Areas on or after January 1, 2014. 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 December 10, 2013. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 13-294 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1129. 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.3 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 3 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 Gregory Kwan, (202) 418-1191 (voice), Gregory.Kwan@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 –