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

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 **DA 02-2058**

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

**Released: August 21, 2002**

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

**Comments due: September 4, 2002**

On August 9, 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
Sprint PCS ("Sprint") network to some of WorldCom's mobile wireless
resale customers provided service via the Sprint network.

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 Sprint network to customers after September 12, 2002.
WorldCom states that substitute services are available from other mobile
telephony providers, as well as Sprint, in the relevant regions.[^3]
Thus, WorldCom asserts, the public convenience and necessity will not be
adversely affected by this discontinuance.

WorldCom requests discontinuance authority with respect to approximately
55,000 subscribers throughout the continental United States for which
Sprint is the underlying carrier.[^4] WorldCom states that the customers
have been sent notification of its intent to discontinue service and
will have until September 12, 2002 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 **September 4, 2002**. Such comments should
refer to **DA 02-2058** and **WC Dkt. No. 02-215**. 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)
Lauren Kravetz Patrich, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, at lkravetz@fcc.gov, or (202) 418-7447
(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 August 9, 2002, by WorldCom Inc., at 1 n.1 ("Section 63.71
    Application"). For further information on procedures regarding
    Section 214, please visit http://www.fcc.gov/wcb/cpd/other_adjud.

[^3]: The letter that has been sent to WorldCom's customers utilizing
    the Sprint network states that WorldCom has reached an agreement
    with Liberty Wireless to assist in transitioning its customers to a
    new wireless service. The transition to Liberty Wireless, however,
    is not automatic. The customer has to contact Liberty Wireless and
    complete Liberty Wireless' application process.

[^4]: WorldCom's Section 63.71 Application states that this
    discontinuance of service will affect the "United States, except
    Alaska and Hawaii." Section 63.71 Application, at 2. Through
    subsequent conversations with WorldCom, it has been determined that
    the discontinuance of service to customers utilizing the Sprint
    network affects the continental United States and will not affect
    any United States territories.

[^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).