PUBLIC NOTICE

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

                                                  
                                   
                                                  DA 97-1173
                                                  June 4, 1997
                                                            
          INTERNATIONAL BUREAU SEEKS ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
           IN THE SETTLEMENT RATE BENCHMARKS PROCEEDING
                 (NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING)
                       IB DOCKET NO. 96-261

SUPPLEMENTAL COMMENTS DUE:  June 24, 1997

SUPPLEMENTAL REPLY COMMENTS DUE:  July 2, 1997
                                                                 

     On June 4, 1997, the Commission adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking initiating a review of its rules and policies governing the participation of foreign
carriers into the U.S. market for basic telecommunications services.  See Rules and Policies on
Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Market, IB Docket 97-142, Order and
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 97-195 (released June 4, 1997) (Foreign Participation
Notice).  In the Foreign Participation Notice, the Commission stated that it may be necessary to
apply to U.S. facilities-based private line carriers the benchmark settlement rate conditions that
the Commission proposed to apply to U.S. private line resellers in International Settlement
Rates, IB Docket 96-261, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 96-484 (released Dec. 19,
1996) (Benchmarks proceeding).  In the Foreign Participation Notice, the Commission therefore
proposed generally to prohibit a U.S. facilities-based private line carrier from originating or
terminating U.S. switched traffic over its facilities-based private lines until all U.S. carriers'
settlement rates for the country or location at the foreign end of the private line are within the
benchmark settlement range to be established in the Benchmarks proceeding. 

     In light of this proposal, the International Bureau invites interested parties to file
supplemental comments and supplemental reply comments on this specific proposal in the
Benchmarks proceeding.  Parties should limit their supplemental comments and supplemental
replies to this specific proposal.  The Commission will decide whether to adopt rules to
implement this and other proposed benchmark settlement rate conditions in the Benchmarksproceeding.  





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     Pursuant to applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the
Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. Sections 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may file
supplemental comments on or before June 24, 1997, and supplemental reply comments on or
before July 2, 1997.  We do not anticipate granting any extensions of this pleading cycle.  To
file formally in this proceeding, you must file an original and four copies of all submissions.  If
you want each Commissioner to receive a personal copy of your submission, you must file an
original plus nine copies.  You should send your submission to: Office of the Secretary, Federal
Communications Commission, Washington, D.C.  20554.

     A copy of each pleading should also be sent to Kathryn O'Brien, International Bureau,
FCC, Room 845A, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20554, and to the Commission's
contractor for public service records duplication: ITS, Inc., 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140,
Washington, D.C.  20037.  Supplemental comments will be available for inspection and copying
in the FCC's Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20554. 
Copies also can be obtained from ITS at (202) 857-3800.

     We will treat this proceeding as non-restricted (i.e., permit-but-disclose) for purposes of
the Commission's ex parte rules.  See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216.  For further
information concerning this matter, please contact Kathryn O'Brien, Telecommunications
Division, International Bureau, at (202) 418-0439.
 
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