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 14-1263 Released: August 29, 2014 COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF MCI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC. TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES WC Docket No. 14-128 Comp. Pol. File No. 1163 Comments Due: September 15, 2014 Section 214 Application Applicant: MCI Communications Services, Inc. On August 1, 2014, MCI Communications Services, Inc. (MCI or Applicant), located at One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, 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 a certain domestic telecommunications service in all fifty states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Midway Island and Wake Island (Affected Areas). 1 MCI indicates that it currently offers Verizon Enterprise Solutions Calling Card service (VES Calling Card Service) to enterprise and government customers in the Affected Areas. MCI explains that its VES Calling Card is a postpaid long-distance travel card that allows customers to place long-distance and international calls by dialing a toll-free access code or number that MCI provides. According to MCI, customers can use these cards from anywhere in the United States to place long-distance and international calls, and customers will then be billed for calls made using the card. MCI states, however, that it plans to grandfather and eventually discontinue its VES Calling Card Service in the Affected Areas on or after September 30, 2014, subject to Commission authorization and the terms and conditions of existing contracts. MCI specifies that on or after September 30, 2014, it will no longer accept new orders for VES Calling Card Service and will no longer support requests for move, add or change activities except as required by contract. MCI adds that it plans to discontinue the service to existing customers on or after November 30, 2014, except as required by contract. MCI emphasizes that it will provide VES Calling Card Service to existing customers in accordance with its contractual obligations and will discontinue service to these customers when those contractual obligations cease to exist. MCI states that the public convenience and necessity will not be impaired by the proposed discontinuance because the service is declining in the marketplace as mobile phones have, in most cases, obviated the need for calling card services. In addition, MCI submits that there are other alternatives to these calling card services in 1 MCI has represented to Commission staff that it does not have any customers on Wake Island or Midway Island and that it has not attempted to directly notify those islands as there are no governors or public utility commissions at those locations. 2the marketplace including pre-paid calling cards and alternate billing services. MCI asserts that it sent notice of the proposed discontinuance to affected customers by U.S. Mail on or before July 28, 2014. MCI represents that it is considered non-dominant with respect to the service to be discontinued and that it “has always offered Verizon Enterprise Solutions Calling Card [service] on a non-dominant basis and has not tariffed the services at least since the Commission adopted its de-tariffing rules more than ten years ago.” In accordance with section 63.71(c) of the Commission’s rules, MCI’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 MCI that the grant will not be automatically effective. In its application and notice to customers, MCI indicates that on or after September 30, 2014 and subject to Commission authorization and the terms and conditions of existing contracts, it plans to no longer accept new orders for VES Calling Card Service and no longer support requests for move, add or change activities in the Affected Areas. In addition, MCI states that it plans to discontinue VES Calling Card Service to existing customers on or after November 30, 2014, except as required by contract. Accordingly, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of MCI’s application and notice to customers, absent further Commission action, MCI may cease to accept new orders for VES Calling Card Service and to support requests for move, add or change activities in the Affected Areas on or after September 30, 2014, in accordance with MCI’s filed representations. In addition, pursuant to section 63.71(c) and the terms of the application and notice to customers, absent further Commission action, MCI may discontinue its VES Calling Card Service in the Affected Areas on or after November 30, 2014, in accordance with MCI’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. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission on or before September 15, 2014. Such comments should refer to WC Docket No. 14-128 and Comp. Pol. File No. 1163. 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 3Applicant. 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 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 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 – 2 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 et seq.