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 15-207 Released: February 12, 2015 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T SERVICES, INC. ON BEHALF OF SBC LONG DISTANCE, LLC D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 15-31 Comp. Pol. File No. 1202 Comments Due: February 27, 2015 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Services, Inc. on behalf of SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance On January 13, 2015, AT&T Services, Inc. (AT&T or Applicant) filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) on behalf of its affiliate, SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance (AT&T LD or Applicant), located at P.O. Box 9041, South San Francisco, CA 94083, 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 the United States including all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (collectively, Service Areas). 1 On February 9, 2015, AT&T updated the record regarding notice provided to customers. 2 AT&T indicates that AT&T LD currently offers AT&T Long Distance Calling Card Service and Value Card Plus Service in the Service Areas (Affected Services). According to AT&T, these services are long distance calling card services that allow users to place intrastate, interstate and/or international calls by dialing a company-provided toll-free access code or number. AT&T explains that the Affected Services also allow such calls to be billed to the customer’s telephone bill after the call is placed. AT&T states, however, that residential calling card usage has been declining for several years due to the market growth of other communications methods including mobile phones, email, social media streams and voice over Internet Protocol. Accordingly, AT&T indicates that AT&T LD now plans to discontinue the Affected Services in the Service Areas on or after March 2, 2015, subject to Commission authorization. 3 The 1 See Section 63.71 Application of SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance For Authority Pursuant to Section 214 of The Communications Act of 1934, As Amended, To Discontinue the Provision of Service, WC Docket No. 15-31 (filed Jan. 13, 2015), http://appsint.fcc.gov/ecfs/comment/view?id=60001008355 (Application). 2 See Letter from Terri L. Hoskins, General Attorney, AT&T Services Inc., to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, WC Docket No. 15-31 (filed Feb. 9, 2015). 3 Discontinuance of international service is governed by section 63.19 of the Commission’s rules. See 47 C.F.R. § 63.19. 2Applicant emphasizes that this proposed discontinuance will not impact any of AT&T LD’s prepaid calling cards or any prepaid minutes associated with those cards. In addition, AT&T maintains that the public convenience and necessity will not be adversely affected by the proposed discontinuance due to the very low demand for these services and the existence of various alternatives. AT&T states that AT&T LD sent notice to customers in their monthly bill via U.S. Mail between December 3, 2014 and January 12, 2015. According to AT&T, customers who elected not to receive paper bills received the notice in the electronic copy (PDF version) of their on-line bill. AT&T represents that it also posted a copy of the notice on its service publications website on February 4, 2015. 4 AT&T asserts that AT&T LD is considered non-dominant with respect to the services to be discontinued. 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 31st 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 and notice to customers, AT&T indicates that AT&T LD plans to discontinue the Affected Services in the Service Areas on or after March 2, 2015, subject to Commission authorization. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of the Application and notice, absent further Commission action, AT&T LD may discontinue the Affected Services in the Service Areas on or after March 15, 2015, in accordance with AT&T’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. We seek comment on the proposed discontinuance of services, including the steps taken to notify customers in light of the notification procedures prescribed in section 63.71(a) of the Commission's rules. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before February 27, 2015. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 15-31 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1202. 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://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. 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. 4 See http://cpr.att.com/pdf/sbcld/is/inter_res_cust_notice_other.html. 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 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. 5 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 – 5 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq.