$/Public Notice Seeking Comments on Petitions for Waiver/Rules
and Policies Regarding Calling Number Identification Service--
Caller ID//$
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RECORD ONLY

 PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554
     
News media information 202/418-0500  Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/632-0002.

     DA 95-2232


                            CC Docket No. 91-281

Released:  October 27, 1995


   COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON GTE, SPRINT AND PACIFIC TELESIS PETITIONS
       FOR WAIVER OF COMMISSION RULES AND POLICIES REGARDING CALLING
                 NUMBER IDENTIFICATION SERVICE - CALLER ID
                                      

Comments Due:   November 8, 1995
Replies Due:    November 15, 1995


      In a Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration adopted May 5, 1995, the
Commission concluded that common carriers, using Signaling System 7 (SS7) and offering or
subscribing to any service based on SS7 call set up functionality, are required to transmit the calling
party number associated with an interstate call to interconnecting carriers.  This rule is to become
effective on December 1, 1995 and will facilitate the offering of national caller identification (caller
ID) and other calling party numbers (CPN)-based services.  

     On October 13, 1995, GTE Service Corporation (GTE) filed a petition for limited waiver or,
in the alternative, a limited suspension of Section 64.1601(a) of the Commission's rules in the State
of California until June 3, 1996.  GTE contends that it will not be able to meet the December 1, 1995
deadline for passage of CPN because it cannot lawfully pass CPN in California as it has been unable
to obtain approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for its customer notification
and education plan (CNEP) on caller ID services.  GTE states that under California law, all local
exchange carriers (LECs) must first comply with the CPUC's customer education and notification
requirements, before they can pass any CPN.  GTE asserts that despite its numerous efforts to design
a CNEP to meet the guidelines of the CPUC,  it has been unsuccessful.  
     
     On October 25, 1995, Pacific Bell (Pacific) filed a petition requesting a temporary and limited
waiver of Section 64.1601(a) of the Commission's rules in the State of California until June 1, 1996. 
Like GTE, Pacific contends that it will not be able to meet the December 1, 1995 deadline for passage
of CPN because it cannot lawfully pass CPN in California as it has been unable to obtain approval from
the CPUC for its caller ID services.  Pacific asserts that despite proposing a CNEP, which it estimates
would cost $33 million, it has been unsuccessful in its attempts to receive CPUC approval.   

     On October 24, 1995, Sprint Communications Company (Sprint) filed a petition requesting a
waiver of Sections 64.1601(a), 64.1603 and 64.1604 of the Commission's rules until March 31, 1996. 
Sprint requests a waiver to defer the CPN requirement until modifications in its software delivery of
CPN can be corrected.  Sprint indicates that during testing of its switch software, it identified certain
instances in which its switches would pass Automatic Number Identification (ANI) (billing number
information) when CPN information was not available.  Sprint requests a waiver to allow time for it
to correct this problem.

     We invite comment on these Petitions for Waiver.  Comments should be filed on or before
November 8, 1995, and Reply Comments should be filed on or before November 15, 1995.  All
comments should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919
M Street, N.W., Room 222, Washington, D.C. 20554, referencing CC Docket No. 91-281.  The full
text of the petitions, and the comments and reply comments will be available for inspection and
duplication during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications
Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 239, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies may also be obtained
from International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington,
D.C.  20037 (202/857-3800).

     For further information, contact Michael Specht, (202) 418-2378, or Elizabeth Nightingale, (202)
418-2352, both of the Common Carrier Bureau, Network Services Division.


                      FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION