News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY 202 / 418-2555 PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 Released: March 2, 2000 COMMENTS INVITED ON GTE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION TO DISCONTINUE PROVISION OF VOICE SERVICES NSD File No. W-P-D-455 Section 214 Application Applicant: GTE Communications Corporation On March 1, 2000, GTE Communications Corporation ("Applicant") 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 Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  63.71, to discontinue provision of voice services (switched and dedicated) on March 30, 2000 in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Applicant states that it will discontinue providing interLATA domestic interexchange services consisting of resold switched and dedicated voice services (including calling card and toll free services), originating in the states noted above. Discontinuation is necessary to permit Applicant's parent company, GTE Corporation, to merge with Bell Atlantic Corporation. Applicant states that upon closing of the merger, it will become an affiliate of Bell Atlantic and, accordingly, will become subject to statutory prohibitions restricting the provision of these services originating in the noted states. Applicant states that the number of affected customers in the states listed above, as of January 28, 1999, was 166,983. Applicant states that affected customers may readily subscribe to similar services provided by numerous other carriers, including all of the major interexchange carriers. Additionally, Applicant states it has entered into a Customer Transition Agreement with Sprint Corporation. Pending regulatory approval of an application by Sprint for a waiver of FCC slamming rules, Applicant will transfer to Sprint those affected customers who do not choose an alternative carrier, thus, ensuring that no customer's long distance service will be disrupted. Applicant's application appears to be complete. Applicant states that it has notified all affected customers of its proposed discontinuance, informing them of steps to take to maintain service using alternate carriers and of rights to file objections with the Commission. Applicant states that it will also mail another notice to each affected customer on or before March 11, 2000. Applicant has submitted a copy of its application to the Secretary of Defense, the Governor of each affected state, and the Public Service Commission of each affected state. In accordance with 47 C.F.R.  63.71(c), the application will be deemed to be automatically granted on the 31st day after the date of this public notice, without any Commission notification to the applicant, unless the Commission has notified the applicant that the grant will not be automatically effective. The FCC 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 is otherwise adversely affected. Comments objecting to this application must be filed with the Commission by March 24, 2000. Such comments should refer to application file number W-P-D-455. Comments should include specific information about the impact of this proposed discontinuance on the commenter, including any inability to acquire reasonable substitute service. Comments should be sent to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW- A325, Washington, DC 20554. Two copies of the comments should also be sent to the Network Services Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Room 6-A207, 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, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 418-0270. For further information, contact Al McCloud, (202) 418-2499 (voice), amccloud@fcc.gov or Marty Schwimmer, (202) 418-2320 (voice), mschwimm@fcc.gov, of the Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau. The TTY number is (202) 418-0484. -FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION-