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

                                                                              

                                                                              

                                                                         
   DA 96-1288

                                                                                         PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON
       SWBT'S AMENDMENT TO ITS COMPARABLY EFFICIENT INTERCONNECTION
          PLANS FOR THE PROVISION OF PAYMENT PROCESSING SERVICES 

                 CC Docket Nos. 85-229, 90-623 and 95-20

        Released:  August 13, 1996

 On May 28, 1996, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company (SWBT) filed an
amendment to its Comparably Efficient Interconnection (CEI) Plan for its Payment Processing
Service (PPS) that was approved by the Common Carrier  Bureau on October 31, 1995, Bell
Operating Companies Joint Petition for Waiver of Computer II Rules, Order, DA 95-2264. 
According to SWBT, its PPS offering provides for the electronic collection of other
companies' (e.g., electric utilities) customer bill payments by SWBT payment agents. 
Currently, SWBT's Payment Agency Management System (PAMS) Concentrator initiates a
call to each personal computer residing at the payment agents' location and informs them that
the processor is ready to receive the other companies' bill payment file.  This call is currently
provided by the Utility's (i.e., SWBT's PPS customer) calling card.  

 On May 28, 1996, SWBT filed an amendment to its PPS offering.  The Bureau has
informed SWBT that the amendment cannot go into effect without prior Bureau approval. 
Under SWBT's amendment, instead of using the Utility's calling card for the call from the
PAMS Concentrator to each agent laptop to notify the agent to send payment data, SWBT
would use "1+Dialing" over public network lines installed at the request of and billed to the
Utility.  According to SWBT, the Utility would also choose the interexchange carrier and be
billed for long distance usage associated with the calls made by the PAMS Concentrator. 
SWBT notes that this change is sought due to the request of the customer so that the
customer can save calling card surcharges.  

 Interested parties should file comments on SWBT's CEI plan by September 3, 1996
and reply comments by September 13, 1996 with the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  In addition, parties should send one copy to Janice Myles,
Common Carrier Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554,
and another copy to International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), the Commission's
contractor for public service records duplication.  SWBT's CEI plan is available for public
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC's Public Reference Center,
Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies can also be obtained from
ITS at 2100 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037, or by calling (202) 857-3800.

 We will treat this proceeding as non-restricted for purposes of the Commission's ex
parte rules.  See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216.  For further information contact
Janice Myles,  of the Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau, at
(202) 418-1577.  
                                  - FCC -
$// PN, SWBT's CEI Plan DA 96-1288 //$
$/ 47 CFR  64.702 /$
"FOR RECORD ONLY"