PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-438 Released: March 31, 2014 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF TW TELECOM OF ALABAMA LLC TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 14-47 Comp. Pol. File No. 1146 Comments Due: April 15, 2014 Section 214 Application Applicant: tw telecom of alabama llc On March 10, 2014, tw telecom of alabama llc (TW Telecom or Applicant), located at 10475 Park Meadows Drive, Littleton, CO 80124, 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 Alabama. 1 TW Telecom indicates that it currently offers several integrated business services in the Montgomery, Alabama metropolitan area (Service Area) including Channel 12 Service, VersiPak Mach 2 Service, VersiPak Mach 3 Service, VersiPak Lines and Trunks Service, VersiPak Flex T Service, and VersiPak Power T Service (collectively, Affected Services). According to TW Telecom, Channel 12 Service is a bundled service available as a voice only or as an integrated (voice and Internet) solution consisting of local exchange service with selected features, a long distance and/or toll free usage allowance, and optional Internet access. TW Telecom describes VersiPak Mach 2 Service and VersiPak Mach 3 Service (VersiPak Mach Services) as services that consist of integrated voice and Internet bandwidth. TW Telecom further explains that the VersiPak Mach Services allow customers to purchase voice grade equivalent channels with any of the remaining bandwidth provisioned as Internet access, and with bandwidth dynamically allocated between voice and data. TW Telecom states that VersiPak Lines and Trunks Service is the voice portion of an integrated, multi-service, packet-based access service that delivers voice and data services over a single DS1. VersiPak Flex T Service and VersiPak Power T Service are described by TW Telecom as bundled services consisting of local exchange service with selected features, a long distance and/or toll free usage allowance, and Internet access. TW Telecom indicates, however, that as a result of the planned decommission of the Montgomery 5ESS voice switch it intends to discontinue all of the Affected Services in the Service Area on or after May 1, 2014, subject to Commission authorization. TW Telecom maintains that the public convenience and necessity will not be adversely affected by the proposed discontinuance because all affected customers have been given notice 1 TW Telecom states that it is also filing notice of the proposed discontinuance with the International Bureau. Discontinuance of international service is governed by section 63.19 of the Commission’s rules. See 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2that affords them ample time to acquire reasonable substitute services that are readily available in the Service Area and that include, but are not limited to, other services offered by TW Telecom. TW Telecom indicates that affected customers were notified of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. mail on March 10, 2014. TW Telecom asserts that it is considered a non-dominant carrier in its provision of the Affected Services in the Service Area. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, TW Telecom’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 TW Telecom that the grant will not be automatically effective. In the application and notice to customers, TW Telecom indicates that it plans to discontinue the Affected Services in the Service Area on or after May 1, 2014, subject to Commission approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of TW Telecom’s application and notice, absent further Commission action, TW Telecom may discontinue the Affected Services in the Montgomery, Alabama metropolitan area on or after May 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 April 15, 2014. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 14-47 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1146. 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 2 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 3presentation 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 –