NEWSReport No.  CC-585                COMMON CARRIER ACTIONSeptember 9, 1994

           SCOPE OF ISSUES EXPANDED IN "CALL-BACK" PROCEEDING
                                    
     The Commission, on its own motion, has expanded the scope of the issues to be
reconsidered  as a result of AT&T's petition for reconsideration of three applications granted
by the FCC to allow companies to resell international switched services of other carriers using
a "call-back" configuration.  The companies whose applications were granted are VIA USA,
Ltd., Telegroup, Inc., and Discount Call International, Inc. 

     "Call-back" service allows a customer in a foreign country to use foreign facilities to dial
a telephone number in the United States and receive a dial tone at a switch at the reseller's U.S.
location, which the customer can then use to place a call via an outbound switched service of
a U.S. carrier.  The calls originating at U.S. locations are billed at U.S.-tariffed rates. 

     AT&T petitioned to deny these applications alleging that this service, when using an
uncompleted call configuration to facilitate it,  constituted an unreasonable practice under Section
201 of the Communications Act and may constitute wire fraud.  The Commission denied
AT&T's petition and AT&T filed for reconsideration.

     The Commission said the comments supporting AT&T's petition raised issues involving
complex questions of international law, international comity and the law of foreign countries,
including the possibility that call-back services employing an uncompleted call signaling
configuration violate international law. 

     Therefore, it said it would seek additional comment from the parties and members of the
public on all of the issues raised in the comments supporting AT&T's petition.  It also will seek
the advice of the Department of State regarding the issues of international law, international
comity, and the laws of foreign countries. Further, in order to augment the record with respect
to AT&T's assertion that uncompleted call signalling violates the federal wire fraud statute, it
will also seek the advice of the Department of Justice on this issue. 

     Comments are due October 14 and replies November 14.

     Action by the Commission September 2, 1994, by Order (FCC 94-227).  Chairman
Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong. 

                              - FCC -

     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
     Common Carrier Bureau contact: Troy Tanner at (202) 418-1468.