DA 21-1363 DA 21-1363 Released: October 29, 2021 COMMENTS INVITED ON SECTION 214 APPLICATION(S) TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC NON-DOMINANT CARRIER TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No(s). 21-384, 21-387, 21-405 & 21-406 Comments Due: November 15, 2021 Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures and dates apply to the application(s) (the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s)) listed in the Appendix. The Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau), upon initial review, has found the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed herein to be acceptable for filing and subject to the procedures set forth in Section 63.71 of the Commission's rules. 47 CFR § 63.71. The application(s) request 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 CFR § 63.71. to discontinue, reduce, or impair certain domestic telecommunications service(s) (Affected Service(s)) in specified geographic areas (Service Area(s)) as applicable and as fully described in each application. In accordance with section 63.71(f) of the Commission’s rules, the Section 214 Discontinuance Application(s) listed in the Appendix will be deemed granted automatically on November 29, 2021, the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies any applicant(s) that their grant will not be automatically effective. See 47 CFR § 63.71(f) (stating, in relevant part, that an application filed by a non-dominant carrier “shall be automatically granted on the 31st day… unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective.”). We note that the date on which an application for Commission authorization is deemed granted may be different from the date on which applicants are authorized to discontinue, reduce, or impair service (“Authorized Date”). Any applicant whose application has been deemed granted may discontinue, reduce or impair their Affected Service(s) in their Service Area(s) on or after the authorized date(s) specified in the Appendix, in accordance with their filed representations. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(f), and the terms outlined in each application, absent further Commission action, each applicant may discontinue, reduce or impair the Affected Service(s) in the Service Area(s) described in their application on or after the authorized discontinuance date(s) listed in the Appendix for that application. For purposes of computation of time when filing a petition for reconsideration, application for review, or petition for judicial review of the Commission’s decision(s), the date of “public notice” shall be the later of the auto grant date stated above in this Public Notice, or the release date(s) of any further public notice(s) or order(s) announcing final Commission action, as applicable. Should no petitions for reconsideration, applications for review, or petitions for judicial review be timely filed, the proceeding(s) listed in this Public Notice shall be terminated, and the docket(s) will be closed. Comments objecting to any of the applications listed in the Appendix must be filed with the Commission on or before November 15, 2021. Comments should refer to the specific WC Docket No. and Comp. Pol. File No. listed in the Appendix for the particular Section 214 Discontinuance Application that the commenter intends to address. Comments should include specific information about the impact of the 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 number. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must submit one additional copy for each additional docket or rulemaking number associated with the proceeding in which they choose to file comments. Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Filing, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (rel. Mar. 19, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies of the comments may also be emailed to the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, using the contact information listed in the Appendix for the appropriate Section 214 Application. In addition, comments should be served upon the Applicant(s). These proceedings are considered “permit but disclose” proceedings for purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules. 47 CFR § 1.1200 et seq. Participants should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 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). People with Disabilities: We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible in order to allow the agency to satisfy such requests whenever possible. Send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530. For further information, please see the contact(s) for the specific discontinuance proceeding you are interested in as listed in the Appendix. For further information on procedures regarding section 214 please visit https://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/domestic-section-214-discontinuance-service. – FCC – Appendix 1) Applicant(s): MCImetro Access Transmission Services LLC and MCImetro Access Transmission Services of Virginia, Inc. (Verizon Business) WC Docket No. 21-384, Comp. Pol. File No. 1719 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?proceedings_name=21-384&sort=date_disseminated,DESC Affected Service(s) – Business Lines service Service Area(s) – D.C. and all states except Alaska, California and Hawaii Authorized Date(s) – on or after November 30, 2021 Contact(s) – Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), Kimberly.Jackson@fcc.gov, of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau Note: Verizon Business plans to grandfather the Affected Service as follows: on or after November 30, 2021, Verizon Business will cease offering the Affected Service to new customers and will prohibit existing customers from making moves, additions, or changes. Verizon Business plans to discontinue the Affected Service in the affected Service Areas on or after April 30, 2022. 2) Applicant(s): Hunt Communications, LLC WC Docket No. 21-387, Comp. Pol. File No. 1720 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?proceedings_name=21-387&sort=date_disseminated,DESC Affected Service(s) – Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, including any associated local exchange (exchange access) and interstate interexchange (long distance) voice services Service Area(s) – Thibodaux and Houma, Louisiana Authorized Date(s) – on or after December 1, 2021 Contact(s) – Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), Kimberly.Jackson@fcc.gov, of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau 3) Applicant(s): AT&T Services, Inc. on behalf of its affiliates Illinois Bell Telephone Company, LLC, d/b/a AT&T Illinois; Indiana Bell Telephone Company, Incorporated, d/b/a AT&T Indiana; Michigan Bell Telephone Company, d/b/a AT&T Michigan; Nevada Bell Telephone Company, d/b/a AT&T Nevada; The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, d/b/a AT&T Ohio; Pacific Bell Telephone Company, d/b/a AT&T California; Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, d/b/a AT&T Arkansas, AT&T Kansas, AT&T Missouri, AT&T Oklahoma, and AT&T Texas; and Wisconsin Bell, Inc., d/b/a AT&T Wisconsin WC Docket No. 21-405, Comp. Pol. File No. 1726 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?proceedings_name=21-405&sort=date_disseminated,DESC Affected Service(s) – Dedicated SONET Ring Service (DSRS) (also known as OC3, OC12, OC 48, and OC192 Dedicated Ring, OC-48 SONET Ring Service and OC-n Dedicated Ring Service) Service Area(s) – Arkansas, California, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin Authorized Date(s) – on or after December 1, 2021 Contact(s) – Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), Kimberly.Jackson@fcc.gov, of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau Note: AT&T plans to grandfather DSRS as follows: on or after December 1, 2021, AT&T will no longer offer DSRS to new customers, and existing customers will be prohibited from making moves, adds, and changes, but they will be permitted to modify their existing service and add new circuits to their existing service subject to and coterminous with the customer’s existing term payment plan or term agreement. Existing customers will not, however, be permitted to add new nodes in any location and upgrades and downgrades will not be permitted. Current customers with an expiring contract for DSRS may continue to purchase that service on a month-to-month basis or enter a 12-month term plan, when it is available. Effective on or after November 23, 2023, existing customers will no longer be able to renew a term payment plan or agreement and no move, add, or change orders of any type will be accepted. Following the expiration of existing term payment plans or term agreements, however, AT&T will provide DSRS in the affected Service Areas on a month-to-month basis until it is discontinued. 4) Applicant(s): AT&T Services, Inc. on behalf of its affiliates BellSouth Telecommunications, LLC, d/b/a AT&T Alabama, AT&T Florida, AT&T Georgia, AT&T Kentucky, AT&T Louisiana, AT&T Mississippi, AT&T North Carolina, AT&T South Carolina, and AT&T Tennessee WC Docket No. 21-406, Comp. Pol. File No. 1727 Link – https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/filings?proceedings_name=21-406&sort=date_disseminated,DESC Affected Service(s) – Self-Healing Multi-Nodal Alternate Route Topology Ring (SMARTRing) Service Service Area(s) – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee Authorized Date(s) – on or after December 1, 2021 Contact(s) – Kimberly Jackson, (202) 418-7393 (voice), Kimberly.Jackson@fcc.gov, of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau Note: AT&T plans to grandfather the Affected Service as follows: on or after December 1, 2021, AT&T will no longer offer the Affected Service to new customers, and existing customers will be prohibited from making moves, adds, and changes, but they will be permitted to modify their existing service and add new circuits to their existing service subject to and coterminous with the customer’s existing term payment plan or term agreement. Existing customers will not, however, be permitted to add new nodes in any location and upgrades and downgrades will not be permitted. Current customers with an expiring contract for the Affected Service may continue to purchase that service on a month-to-month basis or enter a 12-month term plan, when it is available. Effective on or after November 23, 2023, existing customers will no longer be able to renew a term payment plan or agreement and no move, add, or change orders of any type will be accepted. Following the expiration of existing term payment plans or term agreements, however, AT&T will provide Affected Service in the affected Service Areas on a month-to-month basis until it is discontinued. 6