NEWSReport No. DC 96-54              ACTION IN DOCKET CASE                    June 13, 1996

            COMMISSION SEEKS INFORMATION FOR 1996 ANNUAL REPORT
                    ON COMPETITION IN MARKETS FOR THE 
                      DELIVERY OF VIDEO PROGRAMMING
                          (CS DOCKET NO. 96-133)

       The Commission has adopted a Notice of Inquiry seeking information on the status of
competition in the market for the delivery of video programming.  The Notice is designed to
assist the Commission in gathering the information, data, and public comment necessary to
prepare the 1996 Competition Report.

       The 1996 Competition Report will update the Commission's assessment of the status
of competition and report on changes in the competitive environment since the 1995
Competition Report.  As with previous reports, the Commission intends to use publicly
available information and filings submitted in other Commission proceedings as resources for
the report.  However, the Commission believes that it is appropriate to give interested parties
the opportunity to participate in this process.

       The Notice describes the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that
potentially will affect overall competition in the market for the delivery of video
programming.  It requests information concerning these provisions and their effects on
existing and potential distributors of video programming.  The Notice also solicits
information on the cable industry and other video distributors, technical issues, industry and
market structure (including horizontal concentration and vertical integration), access to
programming, and the status of competition in markets for the delivery of video
programming. 

       Action by the Commission June 12, 1996, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC 96-265). 
Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

News Media Contact: Morgan Broman at (202) 418-2353
Cable Services Bureau Contact: Marcia Glauberman at (202) 418-7200
Office of the General Counsel Contact: Deborah Klein at (202) 418-1880