PUBLIC NOTICE
                                                                              
   Federal Communications Commission
   1919 M St., N.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20554

                                                                              

                                                                              
        DA 96-1110

                                                                                          PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON
                   TELEPORT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC.'S 
                 PETITION FOR EXPEDITED DECLARATORY RULING

                               CCBPol 96-16

        Released:  July 12, 1996 

 On June 28, 1996, Teleport Communications Group Inc. (TCGI),  filed a petition for
expedited declaratory ruling.  TCGI indicates that its petition is prompted by Southwestern
Bell Telephone Company's (SWBT's) decision to appeal a ruling of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (PUCT) authorizing the Texas subsidiaries of TCGI to compete as
facilities-based local exchange carriers.  TCGI petitions the Commission for an expedited
declaratory ruling that section 253(a) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the
PUCT to certify TCGI's Texas affiliates as competitive local exchange carriers, permitting
them to provide facilities-based and resold local exchange services without restriction.  TCGI
states that such a ruling by the FCC would moot the issues raised on appeal. 

     Interested parties should file comments on the TCGI petition by August 12, 1996,
and reply comments by August 27, 1996, with the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  In addition, two copies should be sent to Janice Myles, Common
Carrier Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and one
copy should be sent 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 96-16 on their pleadings.  The TCGI petition is available for
inspection and copying in the Common Carrier Bureau's Public Reference Room, Room 575,
2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies can also be obtained from ITS by
calling (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, Common Carrier Bureau, at (202) 418-
1577. 

                                  - FCC -
$// PN, TCGIs Petition for Declaratory Ruling of DA 96-1110 //$
$/ 47 C.F.R.  253 /$
"FOR RECORD ONLY"