$// PN, Pet. for Waiver of Equal Access Implementation Requirements //$
$/ 47 CFR 69, Access Charges /$
"FOR RECORD ONLY"
                              
                              
                              
                        
                              DA 95-1810

PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON 
ONTONAGON COUNTY TELEPHONE COM   PANY'S
PETITION FOR WAIVER OF EQUAL A    CCESS
IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FO      R
INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANIE      S

CCBPol 95-8
                
                              Released: August 16, 1995 
                  
      On August 11, 1995, Ontonagon County Telephone Company (OCTC) filed a petition
seeking a temporary waiver of the Commission's requirement that Stored Program Control
(SPC) switching equipment be converted to offer equal access within three years of receipt
of a reasonable request for access services by an interexchange carrier.  OCTC states that
it received a request for equal access from MCI Telecommunications Corporation (MCI) in
October of 1992.  OCTC states that it has a total of six switches, three of which are SPC and
three of which are to be upgraded to SPC in the near future.  OCTC requests a one-year
extension of the three year deadline of October 22, 1995 for converting the three SPC
switches.  OCTC states that this extension will allow it time to convert all six switches to
equal access simultaneously. OCTC argues that converting three now and three at a later
date would be administratively burdensome due to the time and expense of equal access
balloting.  
       
      Interested parties should file comments on OCTC's petition by September 15, 1995
and reply comments by September 30, 1995 with the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  A copy should also be sent to Janice Myles, Common Carrier
Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and to the
Commission's contractor for public service records duplication: ITS, Inc. 2100 M Street,
N.W. Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037.  Parties filing comments in this non-docketed
proceeding should include the Policy Division internal reference number, CCBPol 95-8, on
their pleadings. OCTC's petition is available for inspection and copying in the Industry
Analysis Division reference room, Common Carrier Bureau, Room 533, 1919 M Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies can also be obtained from ITS at (202) 857-3800.

      We will treat this proceeding as non-restricted for purposes of the Commission's ex
parte rules.  See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216.  For further information contact
Janice Myles, Policy and Program Planning Division of the Common Carrier Bureau, at (202)
418-1577.