News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.govPUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 DA 99-1510 Released: July 29, 1999 COMMISSION RELEASES LIST OF INTERNATIONAL ROUTES THAT SATISFY CRITERIA FOR RELIEF FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENTS POLICY AND ASSOCIATED FILING REQUIREMENTS The Commission announced today the international routes that qualify for relief from the international settlements policy and associated filing requirements. In 1998 Biennial Regulatory Review: Reform of the International Settlements Policy, IB Docket No. 98-148, CC Docket 90-337 (Phase II), IB Docket 95-22, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 99-73 (rel. May 6, 1999) (ISP Reform Order), the Commission modified its international settlements policy to no longer apply to arrangements for the exchange of international traffic on routes where U.S. carriers are able to terminate at least 50 percent of U.S.-billed traffic at rates that are at least 25 percent below the benchmark settlement rate adopted for that country in International Settlement Rates, IB Docket 96-261, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 19,806, 62 FR 45758 (August 29, 1997). The countries that currently meet this standard, based on information on file with the Commission, are listed below. This list will be posted on the International Bureau's web page (www.fcc.gov/ib) and will be updated as new countries are added to the list. A party that seeks to add a foreign market to the list or remove a foreign market from the list may do so by filing a Petition for Declaratory Ruling, along with the appropriate supporting documentation. See 47 C.F.R.  43.51(g)(2) as amended in the ISP Reform Order. Canada Denmark France Germany Hong Kong Ireland Italy The Netherlands Norway Sweden United Kingdom For additional information, please contact Lisa Choi or Jackie Ruff, Telecommunications Division, International Bureau, (202) 418-1460. -FCC-