PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 99-224 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: January 21, 1999 Petition of Bell Atlantic Telephone Companies for Forbearance from Regulation as a Dominant Carriers in Delaware; Maryland; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Washington, D.C.; Vermont; and Virginia CC Docket No. 99-24 Pleading Cycle Established COMMENTS: March 8, 1999 REPLY COMMENTS: March 30, 1999 On January 20, 1998, the Bell Atlantic Telephone Companies (Bell Atlantic) filed a petition requesting that the Commission exercise its authority to forbear from applying Part 69 rate structure rules and Part 61 rate level rules to its special access services in 12 of the jurisdictions in which it provides special access services, pursuant to Section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934 (the Act), as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C.  160. Bell Atlantic also asks the Commission to forbear from applying its tariff filing rules so as to permit Bell Atlantic to file tariffs for special access service on one day's notice. The jurisdictions for which Bell Atlantic seeks relief are Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York (including the Greenwich, Connecticut service area), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Vermont, and Virginia. This matter shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1200, 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b). Interested parties may file comments on or before March 8, 1999, and reply comments on or before March 30, 1999. When filing comments and/or reply comments, please reference CC Docket No. 99-24. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form ." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of all comments and reply comments. All filings must be sent to the Commission's Secretary, Magalie Roman Salas, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 - 12th Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be filed with the Commission's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Services (ITS), 1231 - 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Finally, one copy of each comment must be filed with the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division, Room 518, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and one copy of each reply must be filed with the Chief, Competitive Pricing Division, Fifth Floor, 445 - 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. For further information, contact Steven Spaeth or Tamara Preiss at (202) 418-1520, TTY: (202) 418-0484. - FCC -