News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY 202 / 418-2555PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 July 16, 1999 Network Services Division Common Carrier Bureau Section 214 application accepted for filing: NSD File No. W-P-D-435 Applicant: Comantel, Inc. Comantel, Inc. ("Comantel") filed an application on July 6, 1999 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 Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.764, 63.71, to discontinue, on September 1, 1999, the provision of its Econocall service provided pursuant to its Tariff FCC No.2 - Message Telecommunications Service. This application states that it provides direct dial long distance services through a feature group A access arrangement. That service, sold by the company under the Econocall name, is not Year 2000 (Y2K) compatible. Due to the influx of competitive offerings for direct dial traffic, the company finds the declining demand does not warrant the investment necessary for the continuation of the service. Comantel states that with the variety of options available to subscribers, discontinuance of this service will have no impact on the ability of customers to receive service or a reasonable substitute from another carrier. The applicant states that subscribers have been sent notifications of intent to discontinue service and a legal notice was placed in the newspaper serving the communities in Comantel's operating territory. Comantel's application appears to be complete as an application for discontinuance of service under section 214(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, 47 U.S.C.  214(a), and section 63.71 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  63.71. The application will be accepted for filing on the date Comantel files a certification with the Commission that it has notified and sent a copy of its application to the Secretary of Defense and the Governor of each state in which the discontinuance is proposed, in accordance with section 214(b) of the Act, 47 U.S.C.  214(b). In accordance with 47 C.F.R.  63.71(b)(4)(c), the application to discontinue, reduce or impair service shall be automatically granted on the 31st day after its filing with the Commission based on the date of certification noted above, without any Commission notification to the applicant unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. Petitions to deny this application must be filed with the Commission and served upon the applicant by August 13, 1999. It is requested that such petitions refer to the application file number shown above. Petitions should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. Two copies of the petition should also be sent to Network Services Division, Room 6-A207, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. The application will be available for review and copying during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, N.W., Suite CY-A257, Washington, D.C., 20554, (202) 418-0267. For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499, amccloud@fcc.gov, at the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-