PUBLIC NOTICE![](media/image1.png){width="0.6541666666666667in"
height="0.6604166666666667in"}

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 **DA 02-1891**

News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet:
http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov

**Released: August 1, 2002**

> COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF WORLDCOM, INC. TO PARTIALLY
> DISCONTINUE THE PROVISION OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
>
> **WC Docket No. 02-215**

**Comments due: August 15, 2002**

On July 29, 2002, WorldCom, Inc. ("WorldCom"), on behalf of certain of
its subsidiaries that provide mobile wireless services, WorldCom
Wireless, Inc. and MCI Wireless, Inc., filed an application with the
Federal Communications Commission ("Commission"), requesting authority
under section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,[^1]
and section 63.71 of the Commission\'s rules,[^2] to discontinue
WorldCom's offering of resold mobile wireless services carried on the
AT&T Wireless, Inc. ("AT&T Wireless") network to some of WorldCom's
mobile wireless resale customers provided service via the AT&T Wireless
network. [^3]

WorldCom requests discontinuance authority because it is in the process
of exiting the business of providing resold wireless communications
services, and it intends not to provide resold mobile wireless service
carried on the AT&T Wireless network to customers after September 2,
2002. WorldCom explains that substitute services are available from
other CMRS providers, as well as AT&T Wireless, in the relevant regions.
Thus, WorldCom asserts, the public convenience and necessity will not be
adversely affected by the discontinuance of resold wireless service in
these states.

WorldCom estimates that it provides resold wireless services to 625,234
customers in 27 states utilizing the AT&T Wireless network.[^4] WorldCom
intends to transfer approximately 500,000 of these customers to AT&T
Wireless. The customers to be transferred are not the subject of
WorldCom's discontinuance application. The customers to be transferred
will or have been sent a notification by WorldCom about the transfer
arrangements. WorldCom requests discontinuance authority with respect to
the remaining 125,000 subscribers for whom AT&T Wireless is the
underlying carrier. WorldCom states that the customers for whom service
will be discontinued have been sent notification of its intent to
discontinue service and will have at least thirty-one (31) days in which
to find another wireless provider before losing service. WorldCom
indicates that the decision to exit this aspect of its wireless
communications services business will not impact any other service that
these or any other customers currently receive from WorldCom, MCI or any
other WorldCom affiliate.

In accordance with 47 C.F.R. § 63.71(c), the application will be deemed
to be automatically granted on the thirty-first (31st) day after the
release date of this notice, unless the Commission has notified WorldCom
that the grant will not be automatically effective. The Commission will
normally 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.

This proceeding is considered a "permit but disclose" proceeding for
purposes of the Commission\'s *ex parte* rules.[^5] Pursuant to Sections
1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission\'s rules,[^6] interested parties may
file comments on or before **August 14, 2002**. Such comments should
refer to **WC Dkt. No. 02-\*\*\*.** Comments should include specific
information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the
commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute
service.

Under the Commission's current procedures for the submission of filings
and other documents,[^7] submissions in this matter may be filed
electronically or by paper.

-   **If filed by ECFS**,[^8] comments shall be sent as an electronic
    file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html.
    Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed.
    If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of
    this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic
    copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced
    in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters
    should include their full name, 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, commenters should send an e-mail to
    ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of
    the message, "get form \<your e-mail address\>." A sample form and
    directions will be sent in reply.

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-   **If filed by paper**, the original and four copies of each filing
    must be filed by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight
    courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail
    (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal
    Service mail). The Commission\'s contractor, Vistronix, Inc., 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 Mail, and Priority Mail should be
    addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. All
    filings must be addressed to the Commission\'s Secretary, Office of
    the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

One copy of each pleading must be delivered electronically, by e-mail or
facsimile, or if delivered as paper copy, by hand or messenger delivery,
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S.
Postal Service mail (according to the procedures set forth above for
paper filings) to: (1) the Commission's duplicating contractor, Qualex
International, at qualexint@aol.com or (202) 863-2898 (facsimile); (2)
Kathy Harris, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, at kharris@fcc.gov, or (202) 418-7224 (facsimile); and (3) Erin
McGrath, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, at emcgrath@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7447 (facsimile).

Filings and comments may be obtained from ECFS, which is accessible
through the Commission\'s website, and are also available for public
inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room
CY-A257, Washington, DC, 20554. They may also be purchased from the
Commission\'s duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II,
445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 20554, telephone
202-863-2893, facsimile 202-863-2898, or via e-mail qualexint@aol.com.

For further information, contact Lauren Kravetz Patrich or Erin McGrath,
Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at
(202) 418-7240.

**- FCC -**

[^1]: 47 U.S.C. § 214(a).

[^2]: 47 C.F.R. § 63.71. Under the Commission's rules, commercial mobile
    radio service (CMRS) providers are not required to seek authority to
    discontinue service. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 20.15(b)(3). WorldCom states
    that it filed the subject application both out of an overabundance
    of caution and to provide customers greater notice than is required
    by the Commission's rules. Section 63.71 Application, filed July 29,
    2002, by WorldCom Inc., at 1 n.1. For further information on
    procedures regarding Section 214, please visit
    http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/cpd/other_adjud.

[^3]: WorldCom discloses that it expects to supplement its application
    with additional requests for authorization to address customers
    whose service is carried on the networks of other facilities-based
    CMRS providers.

[^4]: WorldCom requests authority to discontinue resold wireless service
    to certain customers in the following markets: Arizona, California,
    Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,
    Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Louisiana,
    Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
    Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington.

[^5]: *See generally* 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200 ‑ 1.1216.

[^6]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419

[^7]: *See* *In the Matter of Implementation of Interim Electronic
    Filing Procedures for Certain Commission Filings,* Order, FCC 01-345
    (rel. Nov. 29, 2001); *see also* FCC Announces a New Filing Location
    for Paper Documents and a New Fax Number for General Correspondence,
    *Public Notice,* DA 01-2919 (rel. Dec. 14, 2001).

[^8]: *See* Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63
    Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998).