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

                                                                              

                                                                         
D                                                                A 98-832
M                                                              ay 1, 1998

                                    

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

                                    
ISP-98-PDR-186  American International Telephone; El Salvador Telecom, S.A.C.V.

 American International Telephone ("AIT"), has petitioned the Commission for a
declaratory ruling that an alternative settlement arrangement negotiated with El Salvador
Telecom, S.A.C.V. for service to and from El Salvador is permitted under the framework
adopted by the Commission in the Flexibility Order.  The non-exclusive arrangement
provides for AIT to pay El Salvador Telecom 38› per minute to terminate calls in El
Salvador and for El Salvador Telecom to pay AIT 5.5› per minute to terminate calls in the
United States.  AIT stipulates that El Salvador is a member of the World Trade Organization. 

 AIT submits that both AIT and El Salvador Telecom are nondominant carriers and the
proposed rate is below the current settlement rate for terminating service in El Salvador.
   
 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-
186.

 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 -