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 13-109 Released: January 28, 2013 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF FAST PHONES, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 13-25 Comp. Pol. File No. 1077 Comments Due: February 12, 2013 Section 214 Application Applicant: Fast Phones, Inc. On December 28, 2012, Fast Phones, Inc. (Fast Phones or Applicant), located at P.O. Box 20877, Montgomery, AL 36120-0877, 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, Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina (collectively Service Areas). Fast Phones indicates that it currently offers a prepaid wireline service package in the Service Areas that includes resold residential local exchange services and interexchange (domestic long distance) services that it provides using AT&T as its underlying carrier. Fast Phones asserts that, in response to changing market conditions, it has determined that it is no longer feasible to offer its current resold wireline service package in the AT&T territories. Fast Phones therefore proposes to discontinue its prepaid wireline residential local exchange and interexchange services in the Service Areas. Fast Phones specifies that it plans to discontinue services on February 28, 2013, subject to regulatory approval. According to Fast Phones, written notice of the planned discontinuance was sent to affected customers by first-class mail on December 21, 2012. Fast Phones states that the notice to customers provides a toll-free telephone number that customers may call to reach Fast Phones service representatives for assistance with the transition. Fast Phones maintains that the planned discontinuance will not result in harm to affected customers because they are being provided with ample notice of the discontinuance, and equivalent service offerings are available from other carriers. Fast Phones adds that one or more other carriers in each state provide similar prepaid packages and that many more carriers, including the incumbent carrier, AT&T, provide these services on a post-paid basis. Fast Phones represents that it is non-dominant with respect to the services it proposes to discontinue. In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, Fast Phones’ application will be deemed to be granted automatically on the 31st day after the release date of this public notice, unless the Commission notifies Fast Phones that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application, Fast Phones indicates that it plans to discontinue prepaid wireline residential local exchange and interexchange services in the Service Areas on February 28, 2013, subject to regulatory approval. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of Fast Phones’ application, absent further Commission action, 2Fast Phones may terminate prepaid wireline residential local exchange and interexchange services in the Service Areas on or after February 28, 2013, in accordance with Fast Phones’ 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. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before February 12, 2013. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 13-25 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1077. 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.1 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 1 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq. 3proceedings 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 –