NEWS                                                           May 16, 1996

                 FCC RELEASES STUDY ON TELEPHONE TRENDS


     The FCC has released a report entitled Trends in Telephone
Service.  This report was designed to provide answers to some of
the most frequently asked questions about the telephone industry --
questions asked by consumers, members of Congress, other government
agencies, telecommunications carriers, and members of the business
and academic communities.  To this end, the report contains summary
information about the size, growth, and development of the
telephone industry, including data on market shares, minutes of
calling, number of lines, and telephone subscribership.  The report
also provides information about telephone rates and price changes,
consumer expenditures for service, access charges, long distance
carriers, the status of local competition, infrastructure,
universal service programs, and international telephone traffic.  

     This report is available for reference in the Common Carrier
Bureau Public Reference Room, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 509. 
Copies may be purchased by calling International Transcription
Services, Inc. (ITS) at (202) 857-3800.  The report can also be
downloaded from the FCC-State Link computer bulletin board at (202)
418-0241 [BBS file name TREND196.ZIP].  The FCC-State Link can also
be reached by using a gateway feature available through the
National Technical Information Service's FedWorld system.  FedWorld
can also be reached via direct dial access (703) 321-3339, via
internet telnet access (fedworld.gov), or via the World Wide Web
(http://www.fedworld.gov).

   FCC

     For further information, contact the Industry Analysis
Division, Common Carrier Bureau, at (202) 418-0940.