PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                           DA 96-1862

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                                 Released: November 8, 1996


                          PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED



          WESTERN PCS I CORPORATION FILES SUPPLEMENT TO PETITION 
             REQUESTING PREEMPTION OF THE OREGON DEPARTMENT
                   OF REVENUE'S PROPOSED TAX ASSESSMENT


                      Comment Date: November 22, 1996


       On July 8, 1996, Western PCS I Corporation ("Western") filed a request for declaratory
ruling asking that the Commission preempt enforcement of Oregon's proposed assessment of a
tax on the amount paid by Western for its Broadband PCS license for the Portland, Oregon Major
Trading Area.  According to Western, this proposed tax assessment constitutes a carrier to entry
in violation of Sections 253(d) and 332(c)(3(A) of the Act.  47 U.S.C.  253(d) and
332(c)(3)(A).  The Commission issued a public notice inviting comment.  Comments were due
on August 30, 1996 and reply comments were due on September 30, 1996.

       On October 23, 1996, Western filed a supplement to its petition for declaratory ruling to
include specific factual information concerning the application and anticompetitive and
discriminatory effects of Oregon's proposed tax on Western's Broadband PCS license.      

       Interested parties may file comments on Western's supplement no later than November
22, 1996.  All comments should make reference to Western's supplement and be sent to the
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554.  A copy
of each filing should be sent to International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street,
N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800 and Laura Smith, Esq., Federal
Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Commercial
Wireless Division, Legal Branch, 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 7130, Washington, D.C. 20554. 
Parties are encouraged to submit comments on diskette.  Such diskette submissions would be in
addition to and not a substitute for the formal filing requirement presented above.  Parties
submitting diskettes should submit them to Laura Smith at the address listed above.  Such a
submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible form using
Wordperfect 5.1 for Windows software.  The diskette should be submitted in "read only" mode,
and should be clearly labelled with the party's name, proceeding, type of pleading, and date of
submission.

       The full text  of the petition, supplement comments, and reply comments are available for
public inspection and duplication during regular business hours in the Commercial Wireless
Division of the Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 2025 M
Street, N.W., Room 7130, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies may also be obtained from ITS. 

       Pursuant to Section 1.1206(b)(4) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b)(4),
this proceeding will be conducted as a non-restricted proceeding in which ex parte
communications are permitted but subject to disclosure.

       For further information, contact Laura Smith at (202) 418-0620, WTB, Commercial
Wireless Division, Legal Branch.







                                  - FCC -