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

                                                                              

                                                                         
D                                                               A 98-1220
J                                                            une 24, 1998

                                    

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

                                    
I                    SP-98-PDR-274  Sprint; Telstra

                                    
Sprint has petitioned the Commission for a declaratory ruling that an alternative settlement
arrangement negotiated with Telstra for service to and from Australia is permitted under the
framework adopted by the Commission in the Flexibility Order.  The proposed arrangement
provides for a non-accounting rate arrangement which covers all switched traffic.  The rate
would be equal to or below 0.22 SDR and it would be in effect from July 1, 1997, through
June 30, 1998.  

Sprint stipulates that Australia is a member of the World Trade Organization.  It argues that
Australia is one of the most liberalized telecommunications service markets in the world. 
Sprint states that the arrangement would not trigger the Commission's competitive safeguards
because Telstra is not affiliated with Sprint or Sprint's affiliates, a non-equity joint venture is
not involved, and less than twenty-five percent of the traffic to or from Australia would be
affected.
 
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-
274.

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.

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