News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov***************** ***************** ******************** ** NOTICE ********************************* *********************** This document was converted from WordPerfect to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ********************************* ******************************** PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 1919 M St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 99-479 March 10, 1999 Petitions for Enforcement of International Settlement Benchmark Rates AT&T, MCI WorldCom, and Sprint have filed joint petitions requesting that the Commission enforce its benchmark settlement rate of 15› per minute as required by the Commission's Benchmarks Order for service on the following routes: U.S.-Cyprus, U.S.-Kuwait, and U.S.-Netherlands Antilles. The Commission has repeatedly expressed its concern about above-cost accounting rates because such rates harm U.S. consumers and may result in marketplace distortions. The Commission adopted the Benchmarks Order to ensure that U.S. consumers pay reasonable rates for international communications service and to guard against distortions that may result from above-cost accounting rates. The Order establishes a set of benchmark settlement rates and requires U.S. international facilities-based carriers to negotiate settlement rates with foreign carriers that comply with those benchmark rates according to a transition schedule. The benchmark settlement rates and the transition schedule depend primarily upon per capita income levels. For carriers in countries classified as upper income countries, which includes Cyprus, Kuwait, and the Netherlands Antilles, the Order requires that a settlement rate no higher than 15› per minute will be used for service provided with the United States beginning on January 1, 1999. AT&T, MCI WorldCom, and Sprint state that they have attempted to negotiate settlement rates that comply with the Benchmarks Order with carriers providing international service in Cyprus (the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority), Kuwait (the Ministry of Communications for the State of Kuwait), and the Netherlands Antilles (Antelcom N.V.), but they have been unsuccessful in reaching agreements that comply with the applicable benchmark settlement rate of 15›. The U.S. carriers request that the Commission enforce its Benchmarks Order by requiring all U.S. carriers to pay settlement rates no higher than 15› beginning on January 1, 1999. Interested parties are requested to file comments no later than April 14, 1999, and reply comments no later than April 26, 1999. Any filings should reference the file number of this proceeding. An original and four copies of all pleadings must be filed in accordance with Section 1.51(c) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.51(c). The pleadings should be filed with Magalie Roman Salas, Secretary, FCC, 445 12th Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be filed with (1) International Transcription Services, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037; (2) the International Bureau Reference Center, Room 102, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554; and (3) each of the petitioners. Copies of the applications and any subsequently filed documents in this matter may be obtained from International Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800. The applications and any subsequently filed documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal hours at the International Bureau Reference Center, located in Room 102, 2000 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. For additional information, please contact Ken Stanley or Kathy O'Brien, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau, (202) 418-1470. -FCC-