PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
      1919 M STREET N.W.
      WASHINGTON, D.C.  20554
      ________________________________________________________________________

                                                  DA 96-293

 
                       INTERNATIONAL BUREAU REVISES 
              DRAFT MANUAL FOR FILING CIRCUIT STATUS REPORTS 


                                   Released: March 5, 1996

      In response to industry suggestions and recent FCC actions, the International Bureau has
revised its draft manual for filing the circuit status and addition reports.  In its Report and Order
released August 9, 1995, 10 FCC Rcd 8605, the Commission, among other things, reduced the
filing frequency for international circuit status reports from monthly to annually and directed
the International Bureau to prepare a manual on filing the reports.  As provided in this decision,
the Bureau developed a draft manual and made it available for public inspection and informal
comment through a variety of sources including the Internet.  To ensure that all interested
parties participated in the development of the manual, the Bureau also held an informal
roundtable meeting on October 24, 1995. 

     As a result of both informal comments and the roundtable, the Bureau revised the draft
manual.  For example, the number of categories of active circuits to be reported was reduced
from nine service categories to four categories.  The four categories are: International Message
Telephone (IMTS), television private line, other private line, and miscellaneous.   The Bureau
also revised the definition of idle circuits to clarify that only circuits available for use but not
in actual use as of the last business day of the calendar year should be reported as idle circuits.
The Bureau also incorporated several editorial suggestions that clarified the filing instructions. 
In light of recent Commission decisions affecting facilities-based common carriers, the Bureau
also incorporated language to ensure that the manual was consistent with these decisions. 

      The manual is structured to guide the filing of both circuit status and circuit addition
reports.  Under Section 43.82 of the Commission's rules, facilities-based carriers are required
to file circuit status reports in accordance with a manual adopted by the Chief of the
International Bureau.  Under Section 63.15 of the Commission's rules, non-dominant carriers
reselling international private lines are required to file annual circuit addition reports.  Circuit
addition reports should contain information on circuits by facility, by service, and by country. 
Carriers that file data in accordance with the manual will satisfy the requirements of both
Section 43.82 and Section 63.15. 


     In answer to industry concerns, the Commission will not require the filing of year-end
1994 data with the 1995 report, as was initially suggested.  The Commission wishes to
emphasize that the required reports will be due on March 31, 1996, and should contain data
as of the last business day of 1995.  Thereafter, the reports will be filed only once a year, on
or before March 31 for the prior calendar year. 

     The revised Draft Manual has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget for
approval.  It is available for inspection as prescribed by OMB, as well as on the Internet.   For
further information contact Bob Gosse, Fran Eisenstein, or Peggy Reitzel or the
Telecommunications Division, International Bureau, at (202) 418-1460.


                                  - FCC -