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                                Before the
                     Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554

                                     )
                                     )
In the Matter of                     )
                                     )
                                     )
SPRINT CORPORATION                   )
Request for Extension                )
of Time and Notification of          )
Termination of Trial                 )

                                  ORDER

      Adopted:  April 8, 1997                 Released:  April 9, 1997  

By the Chief, Cable Services Bureau:

 1.   On March 5, 1997, Sprint Corporation, on behalf of its North Carolina subsidiary,
Carolina Telephone and Telegraph Company ("Sprint"), filed a request for an extension of time
and notification of termination of its video dialtone trial ("March 5, 1997 request") seeking an
extension of time until May 4, 1997, after which date the trial will conclude.   Sprint has been
conducting a video dialtone system trial in the area of Wake Forest, North Carolina, pursuant
to an authorization granted in December 1994.  Sprint's March 5, 1997 request was put on
public notice and no comments or oppositions were received.  For the reasons given below, we
grant Sprint's request.

 2.   In requiring video dialtone operators to make an election to alternative video
programming options, the Commission realized that some operators would need time to evaluate
their options and implement their choice.  The Commission, therefore, provided video dialtone
operators ninety days from August 8, 1996 to transition to an alternative video programming
option.  The Commission also realized that it would not be possible in all circumstances for a
video dialtone operator to complete its transition in ninety days.  In those instances, the
Commission stated in Implementation of Section 302 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996,
Open Video Systems, First Order on Reconsideration ("Transition Order") that it would consider
reasonable extensions of time based on a showing of good cause.  Good cause requires findings
that special circumstances warrant deviation from the rules or orders, and that such deviation
would be in the public interest.

 3.    In its March 5, 1997 request, Sprint states that it intends to complete its video
dialtone system trial and terminate its video programming service.  Sprint requests an extension
of time in order to resolve contractual issues with program providers and to give subscribers
time to acquire alternative video services before the trial ends.  Sprint states that it is providing
sixty days notice, beginning March 4, 1997, to its subscribers to allow trial customers the
opportunity to seek alternative video services.  Sprint further states that this sixty-day notice
period permits it to comply with contractual termination notice requirements.  Finally,
contemporaneously with its March 5, 1997 request, Sprint states that it has sent letters to its
video trial customers, local franchising authorities, video programming providers, and other
interested parties informing them of Sprint's decision to terminate the trial and its plan for
handling its transition.  
 
 4..  Upon review of Sprint's March 5, 1997 request, we find that Sprint's reasons for
its request, i.e., its need to resolve contractual issues with programming providers and its desire
to allow subscribers additional time to acquire alternative video services, are in the public
interest.  Accordingly, we conclude that Sprint has shown good cause for extending the date by
which it must terminate its video dialtone trial to May 4, 1997.  At that time, Sprint is requested
to notify the Commission that the company has concluded its activities related to the video
dialtone trial.        
 5.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, that the Motion of Sprint Corporation to extend
the time to terminate its video dialtone trial to May 4, 1997 is GRANTED.
 
 6.   This action is taken by the Chief, Cable Services Bureau, pursuant to the authority
delegated by 0.321 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.321.

      FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



      Meredith J. Jones
      Chief, Cable Services Bureau