FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
  August 11, 1999                             Emily Hoffnar 202/418-0253
                                        
  
                   COMMON CARRIER ACTION
  
    FCC DENIES AMERITECH PETITION FOR FORBEARANCE FROM 
     APPLYING SECTION 275(a) OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT
         TO AMERITECH'S ALARM MONITORING OPERATIONS
                              
       Today, the Commission denied a petition from Ameritech Corporation asking the
  Commission to forbear from applying the provisions of section 275(a) of the
  Communications Act to Ameritech's alarm monitoring operations.  The Commission
  determined that forbearance would be contrary to the public interest.
  
       Alarm monitoring services rely on devices placed within customer premises to
  detect possible threats to life, safety, or property, from burglary, fire, vandalism, bodily
  injury, or other emergencies.  When triggered, an alarm monitoring device transmits a
  signal to a monitoring center to alert a person at the center of the need to inform the
  customer or another person or police, fire, rescue, security, or public safety personnel of
  the threat.  The transmissions are sent over the facilities of a local exchange carrier or a
  LEC affiliate. 
  
       Congress enacted section 275 of the Communications Act as part of the
  Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Under section 275(a), Ameritech is allowed to engage
  in the provision of alarm monitoring services because it had been providing those services
  as of November 30, 1995.  Under section 275(a)(2), however, neither Ameritech nor an
  Ameritech affiliate may "acquire any equity interest in, or obtain financial control of, any
  unaffiliated alarm monitoring service entity" until five years after the date of enactment of
  the 1996 Act on February 8, 1996.
  
       In today's Order, the Commission stated that Congress, in enacting section 275(a),
  made a policy judgment that the restrictions on Ameritech's alarm monitoring operations
  should sunset on February 8, 2001.  The Commission also stated that Ameritech's petition
  is, in effect, a request that the Commission adopt an earlier sunset date and that Ameritech
  has not contended that any changed or unanticipated circumstance warrants an earlier
  sunset.  The Commission concluded that it would therefore be inconsistent with the public
  interest to shorten the period during which Ameritech participation in alarm monitoring
  should be restricted.
  
       Action by the Commission August 11, 1999, by Memorandum Opinion and Order
  (FCC 99-215).  Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness and Tristani with Commissioners
  Furchtgott-Roth and Powell dissenting and Chairman Kennard and Commissioners
  Furchtgott-Roth and Powell issuing separate statements.   
  
  CC Docket No. 98-65
  
  Report No. CC 99-35
  
  Common Carrier Bureau contacts:    Margaret Egler at (202)418-2319 or 
                                                    William Kehoe at (202)418-7122
  
                                      -FCC-