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

                                                                              

                                                                         
D                                                                A 98-831
M                                                              ay 1, 1998

                                    

                                    
A      PPLICATION FOR ALTERNATIVE SETTLEMENT RATE AGREEMENT UNDER
F                LEXIBILITY STANDARD ACCEPTED FOR FILING

                                    
I    SP-98-PDR-185  American International Telephone; Turitel, S.A.

 American International Telephone ("AIT"), has petitioned the Commission for a
declaratory ruling that an alternative settlement arrangement negotiated with Turitel, S.A. for
service to and from the Dominican Republic is permitted under the framework adopted by the
Commission in the Flexibility Order.  The non-exclusive arrangement provides for AIT to
pay Turitel 21› per minute to terminate calls in the Dominican Republic and for Turitel to
pay AIT 5.5› per minute to terminate calls in the United States.  AIT stipulates that the
Dominican Republic is a member of the World Trade Organization. 

 AIT submits that both AIT and Turitel are nondominant carriers and the proposed rate
is below the benchmark rate established by the Commission for a country like the Dominican
Republic.  AIT also argues that the arrangement will promote market oriented pricing and
competition.
 
 Pursuant to Section 64.1002 of the Commission's rules, the application listed above
will be deemed granted 21 days after the date of this public notice and the applicant may
implement the alternative settlement arrangement on the 28th day, unless the application is
formally opposed within the meaning of Section 1.1202 of the Commission's Rules, or the
Commission has informed the applicant in writing, within 21 days of the date of this public
notice, that the application may not serve the public interest and that implementation of the
proposed alternative settlement arrangement must await formal action on the petition.  If
objections or comments are filed, the applicant may file a response within 5 days of the time
for filing an opposition has expired.  In these instances, the application will be acted upon
only by formal written order of the Commission, and the proposed alternative settlement 



arrangement may not be implemented except in accordance with such an order.

 In accordance with Section 1.51(c) of the Commission's rules, an original and four
copies of all pleadings must be filed with the Secretary at the above address.  In addition, one
copy of each pleading must be filed with (1) International Transcription Services (ITS), the
Commission's duplicating contractor, at its office at 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20036; and (2) the International Reference Room, International Bureau, Room 102, 2000
M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  All filings should refer to File No. ISP-98-PDR-
60.

 Copies of the application and any subsequently filed documents in this matter may be
obtained from ITS, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800.  Such
documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room
hours in the International Reference Room, 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 102, Washington,
D.C. 20554.

 For further information, contact Ken Stanley, Telecommunications Division,
International Bureau, (202) 418-1486.

- FCC -