NEWSNEWSReport No. CC 97-62  COMMON CARRIER ACTION            December 30, 1997
   
     Commission Announces Procedures for FCC Designation of Eligible
   Telecommunications Carriers Pursuant to Section 214(e)(6) of the
                          Communications Act
                          (CC Docket No. 96-45)
                                     
         On December 29, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission released a Public
   Notice, FCC 97-419, establishing the procedures the Commission will use in implementing
   Public Law 105-125 (enacted December 1, 1997).  Public Law 105-125 added subsection
   (e)(6) to section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934.  Section 214(e)(1) of the Act
   provides that common carriers designated as "eligible telecommunications carriers" are
   eligible to receive universal service support in accordance with section 254 of the Act. 
   Section 214(e)(2) of the Act provides that state commissions shall designate eligible
   telecommunications carriers.  Until its recent amendment, section 214 did not address how
   common carriers not subject to the jurisdiction of a state commission would be designated. 
   New section 214(e)(6) provides for the designation of eligible telecommunications carriers
   by the Federal Communications Commission in certain limited circumstances for common
   carriers that are not subject to the jurisdiction of a state commission.  
         
         Carriers seeking designation from the Commission pursuant to section 214(e)(6) are
   instructed to file a petition that sets forth the information detailed in the Public Notice. 
   Upon receipt of a petition filed pursuant to section 214(e)(6), the Commission will issue a
   public notice establishing a pleading cycle and assigning a Bureau file number to the
   petition.  Section 214(e)(6) became law on December 1, 1997, only one month prior to the
   date on which our rules implementing section 254 take effect.  The Commission's prompt
   action establishing these procedures is designed to ensure that eligible telecommunications
   carriers  continue to receive universal service support with little or no interruption.  
   
         Action by the Commission December 29, 1997, by Public Notice (FCC 97-419).
   
         News media contacts:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256 or Rochelle Cohen at
      (202) 418-0253. 
         Common Carrier Bureau contact:  Cheryl Leanza at (202) 418-7388.
        
                                   -FCC-