NEWS
   
                                               Released: August 15, 1996
   
              FCC'S TOLL-FREE INFORMATION SERVICE EXPANDED
         (Service Now Available in Vermont, Kansas and Montana)
                                     
        Beginning today consumers in Vermont, Kansas and Montana will be able to
   reach the Federal Communications Commission's National Call Center by calling   
   1-888-CALL FCC (1-888-225-5322).  As part of its ongoing commitment to make
   information available to the public expeditiously and inexpensively, the Commission
   is expanding the service area of its toll-free information phone line.  Florida, Maine
   and Virginia were the first three states introduced to this service.  
   
        The 1-888 CALL FCC number replaces the original limited access number  
   1-888-FCC-TALK (1-888-322-8255).  For a limited period of time, callers who
   utilize the old 1-888-FCC-TALK number will be automatically transferred to the
   National Call Center.  Hours of operation at the FCC Call Center are 8:00 a.m. to
   5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  Representatives of the news media should direct their
   inquiries to the Commission's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 418-0500.
   
        The FCC's new centralized Call Center will respond to all
   telecommunications issues including, but not limited to, broadcasting, cable, new
   technologies, telephone rates or charges on your phone bill, answer questions about
   long-distance carriers, or provide information on obtaining a license or form, filing a
   complaint, or expressing a concern about what a local radio or television broadcast
   station aired.  When Commission subject matter experts must be consulted, the call
   will be electronically transferred directly from the Call Center to FCC Washington
   Headquarters at no additional cost to the caller.
   
        Full Call Center services are available to the hearing impaired through the
   Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TTY) and can be accessed by dialing     
   1-888-TELL-FCC (835-5322).  Full-time bilingual (English/Spanish) Call Center
   Specialists are also available to assist the public.
   
   - over -
                                     
   
        The toll-free Call Center services are being phased-in geographically
   (approximately 3-5 states per week) over a period of several months with full
   nationwide coverage planned by early 1997.  The current limited availability of the
   FCC 1-888 service is to allow for employee training, software and hardware testing
   and the gathering of vital research data critical to the overall success of the FCC's
   National Call Center service. FCC field agents will be working at the local level to
   ensure that public notification is given once the service goes on line in each state.  
        
        The Call Center is operated by the FCC's Compliance and Information
   Bureau (CIB) and is located in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
   
        "This is a major step forward," said Beverly Baker, Chief of CIB. 
   "Consumers will now be assisted to acquire readily available information on a toll-
   free basis that can lead to problem resolution in or access to a full range of
   communication services and technologies."  According to Baker, as the FCC
   progresses through this phase-in, we will monitor our service availability very
   carefully to be sure our resources are adequate to meet the anticipated call load.  
   
        
   
                                 -  FCC  -
   
   
   News Media contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0500.
   Compliance and Information Bureau contacts:  Marlene Jackson at (202) 418-1117
   and Byron McCoy at (202) 418-1100.