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 08-485 Released: February 29, 2008 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF AT&T INC. ON BEHALF OF SBC LONG DISTANCE, LLC D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 08-29 Comp. Pol. File No. 855 Comments Due: March 17, 2008 Section 214 Application Applicant: AT&T Inc. on behalf of SBC Long Distance, LLC d/b/a AT&T Long Distance On February 1, 2008, AT&T 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 (SBC LD), located at 1010 N. Saint Mary’s Street, #13L, San Antonio, TX 78215, 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 the provision of certain domestic telecommunications services in Georgia and Mississippi. AT&T indicates that SBC LD currently offers the following interstate business services in Georgia and Mississippi: Business Direct Access Line Service (also known as Phone Solutions and Phone Solutions Plus), Primary Rate Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI) Service, Digital Trunks (DTS), and T-1 Integrated Access (IAS). AT&T states that, as a result of the acquisition of AT&T Corp. and its subsidiaries by SBC Communications Inc., the combined entity is streamlining its business services portfolio. Accordingly, AT&T states that SBC LD no longer plans to offer these services in Georgia and Mississippi on or after March 31, 2008, subject to Commission authorization. AT&T maintains that it plans to offer a comparable suite of services to affected customers through another AT&T affiliate, and that there are many alternative providers of business services, including but not limited to AT&T Southeast, AT&T Corp., Access Point, Inc., and Time Warner Telecom. AT&T states that SBC LD notified affected customers in Georgia of the proposed discontinuance by letters sent via U.S. Mail on January 29, 2008. AT&T indicates that SBC LD does not have any customers in Mississippi. Finally, AT&T asserts that SBC LD is non-dominant with respect to the services it proposes to discontinue. 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 AT&T’s application, AT&T indicates that SBC LD anticipates discontinuing service on or after March 31, 2008, subject to Commission approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of AT&T’s application, absent further Commission action, SBC LD may terminate these services in Georgia and Mississippi on or after March 31, 2008. The Commission normally will authorize proposed discontinuances of service 2 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. This proceeding is considered a “permit but disclose” proceeding for purposes of the Commission’s ex parte rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200-1.1216. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before March 17, 2008. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 08-29 and Comp. Pol. File No. 855. 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 filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/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 may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and include the following words in the body of the message, “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. Parties who choose to file by paper must send an original and four copies of the comments to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. 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. The Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes 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 mail, Express, and Priority mail should 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. The application will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0270. A copy of the application may also be purchased from the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail at FCC@BCPIWEB.COM. 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 John Adams, (202) 418-0394 (voice), john.adams@fcc.gov, of the 3 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 –