> **DA 07-1468**

**March 27, 2007**

> **COMMENTS INVITED ON APPLICATION OF BELLSOUTH LONG DISTANCE, INC.
> D/B/A AT&T LONG DISTANCE SERVICE TO DISCONTINUE DOMESTIC
> TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES**
>
> **WC Docket No. 07-56**
>
> **Comp. Pol. File No. 784**
>
> **Comments Due: April 10, 2007**

**Section 214 Application**

**Applicant: BellSouth Long Distance, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long Distance
Service**

On **March 14, 2007, BellSouth Long Distance, Inc. d/b/a AT&T Long
Distance Service** (BellSouth or Applicant), located at **400 Perimeter
Center Terrace, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30346**, 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 the provision of certain
domestic telecommunications services to customers throughout the
continental United States and Hawaii. By amendments filed March 15, 2007
and March 22, 2007, BellSouth corrected certain deficiencies in its
initial application and updated the record regarding notice in the
affected areas. Accordingly, BellSouth's application is deemed complete
as of March 22, 2007.

BellSouth indicates that it currently provides the following business
services throughout the continental United States and Hawaii: BellSouth
Dial Direct Service, BellSouth Toll Free Service, BellSouth Long
Distance Calling Card Service, BellSouth Long Distance Voice VPN
Service, BellSouth Long Distance Domestic Private Line, BellSouth
Wavelength Service, BellSouth Special Access Service, and BellSouth Long
Distance International Private Line Service. BellSouth states that, as a
result of the acquisition of BellSouth Corporation and its affiliated
companies by AT&T Inc., the combined entity now plans to streamline its
business services portfolio. Accordingly, BellSouth indicates that it no
longer plans to offer these services to new customers on or after April
27, 2007, subject to Commission authorization, and that it will continue
to provide services to existing customers until their existing contracts
expire or are terminated.[^1] BellSouth asserts, however, that these
services will be provided by another affiliate of AT&T and that there
are many alternative providers of business services. BellSouth indicates
that it notified affected customers of the proposed discontinuance by
letters sent via U.S. Mail on March 13, 2007. Finally, BellSouth asserts
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,
BellSouth's application will be deemed to be granted automatically on
the thirty-first (31st) day after the release date of this public
notice, unless the Commission notifies BellSouth that the grant will not
be automatically effective. In BellSouth's application and notice to its
customers BellSouth indicates that it will no longer offer these
services to new customers on or after April 27, 2007 and that it will
not provide these services to existing customers beyond the expiration
or termination of their existing contracts. Accordingly, pursuant to
section 63.71(c) and the terms of BellSouth's notice and application,
absent further Commission action, BellSouth may terminate service on or
after **April 27, 2007** in accordance with its filed representations.
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, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200-1.1216.
Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission
on or before **April 10, 2007**. Such comments should refer to **WC
Docket No. 07-56 and Comp. Pol. File No. 784**. 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/]{.underline}. Filers should
follow the instructions provided on the website 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]{.underline}, 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 (4)
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 (although we continue to experience
delays in receiving 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]{.underline}
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 (2) 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-C327, 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) 418-2345, 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]{.underline}](mailto: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]{.underline}, or John Adams, (202)
418-0394 (voice), <john.adams@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.**

-FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-

[^1]: Discontinuance of international service is governed by 47 C.F.R. §
    63.19.