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 PUBLIC  NOTICE  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  445  12th  Street,  SW  WASHINGTON,  DC  20554  News  Media  Information  (202)  418-  0500  Fax-  On-  Demand  202/  418-  2830  Internet  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  202/  418-  2555 
 DA  99-  2769  December  10,  1999 
 AT&  T  COMMUNICATIONS  SECTION  214  APPLICATION  TO  DISCONTINUE  TOLL  FREE  DIRECTORY  ASSISTANCE 
 SERVICE,  1-  800-  555-  1212,  NOT  AUTOMATICALLY  GRANTED 
 NSD  File  No.  W-  P-  D-  443 
 On  November  12,  1999,  AT&  T  Communications  ("  AT&  T")  filed  an  application  requesting  authority  under  section  214(  a)  of  the  Communications  Act  of  1934,  47  U.  S.  C.    214(  a),  and 
 section  63.71  of  the  Federal  Communications  Commissions  rules,  47  C.  F.  R.    63.71,  to  discontinue  providing  AT&  T  Toll-  Free  Directory  Assistance  Service,  which  is  called  by  dialing 
 1-  800-  555-  1212.  The  date  of  the  planned  discontinuance  is  March  31,  2000. 
 Public  Notice  of  the  application  was  released  on  November  16,  1999.  In  accordance  with  47  C.  F.  R.  Section  63.71(  c),  such  applications  are  automatically  granted  on  the  31st  day  after  the 
 release  date  of  the  public  notice,  without  any  Commission  action,  unless  the  Commission  has  notified  the  applicant  that  the  grant  will  not  be  effective  automatically.  The  Commission 
 normally  authorizes  proposed  discontinuances  of  service  unless  it  is  shown  that  customers  would  be  unable  to  receive  service  or  a  reasonable  substitute  from  another  carrier  or  that  the  public 
 convenience  and  necessity  otherwise  is  adversely  affected. 
 AT&  Ts  application  states  there  are  available  substitutes  to  toll  free  directory  assistance  with  which  its  customers  (Responsible  Organizations,  or  RespOrgs)  may  list  toll-  free  service 
 numbers,  including  internet-  based  directories  such  as  AT&  Ts  AnyWho,  bill  inserts,  product  packaging,  and  caller-  paid  local  and  national  directory  assistance  services  such  as  411.  AT&  T 
 also  states  that  it  intends  to  begin  providing  AT&  T  listings  to  alternative  directory  services  that  request  them,  and  that  it  will  consider  offering  a  database  administration  service  to  collect  and 
 update  other  RespOrg  toll-  free  listing  information  into  a  centralized  database  if  there  is  a  sufficient  level  of  demand  for  the  service. 

 Numerous  comments  objecting  to  this  application  have  been  received.  The  comments  argue  that  there  may  be  no  reasonably  substitutable  service  and  that  the  public  convenience  and  necessity 
 may  be  adversely  affected.  Commenting  parties  object,  for  example,  that  not  all  customers  have  or  can  afford  access  to  the  internet,  that  additional  fees  will  be  implemented  for  this  service,  that 
 elderly  and  disabled  people  depend  on  the  service,  that  many  AT&  T  employees  (some  filing  comments  as  members  of  Communications  Workers  of  America)  will  be  harmed,  and  that  small 
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 businesses  will  incur  economic  hardship. 
 Accordingly,  based  on  these  comments,  by  this  Public  Notice,  AT&  T  is  notified  that  its  application  to  discontinue  Toll  Free  Directory  Assistance  Service,  1-  800-  555-  1212,  will  not  be 
 granted  automatically  but  will  be  acted  upon  based  on  its  merits,  following  further  examination  of  both  the  comments  received  and  any  responsive  comments  that  AT&  T  files. 

 For  further  information,  contact  Marty  Schwimmer,  (202)  418-  2320  (voice),  mschwimm@  fcc.  gov,  or  Al  McCloud,  (202)  418-  2499  (voice),  amccloud@  fcc.  gov  at  the  Network  Services  Division,  Common 
 Carrier  Bureau.  The  TTY  number  is  (202)  418-  0484. 
 -FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION- 
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