March 27, 1998
                                                                 



             FCC RELEASES REPORT ON LONG DISTANCE MARKET


     The FCC has released a staff report entitled Long Distance Market Shares.  The report summarizes
publicly available data on long distance market shares.

     Total toll revenues earned by long distance carriers have increased consistently since 1984. 
According to quarterly shareholder revenue data, AT&T's share of toll revenues fell from 88% in 1984 to
47% as of the fourth quarter 1997.  MCI's share of long distance revenues increased from about 5% to 19%
during that period; Sprint's share increased from 3% to almost 10%; and WorldCom obtained a market share
exceeding 6%.  The market shares of smaller carriers grew even faster, increasing from 4% to over 18%
during that same period of time. 

     In addition to information on revenues, the report contains information on switched access minutes
and an approximation of long distance conversation minutes.  AT&T's share of the overall market for
interstate switched minutes declined from over 80% in late 1984 to under 51% in the fourth quarter of 1997. 


     The report is available for reference in the Common Carrier Bureau Public Reference Room, 2000
M Street N.W., Room 575.  Copies may be purchased by calling International Transcription Services, Inc.
(ITS) at (202) 857-3800.  The report can be downloaded [file name: MKSH4Q97.ZIP] from the FCC-State
Link internet site at http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/stats on the World Wide Web.  The report can also be
downloaded from the FCC-State Link computer bulletin board system at (202) 418-0241.


                                -FCC-


     For additional information, contact James Zolnierek or Katie Rangos of the Common Carrier Bureau's
Industry Analysis Division, (202) 418-0940.