PUBLIC NOTICE

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

                                        
                                                            DA 97-1645

                                                   
         COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON "JOINT
          EMERGENCY PETITION FOR PARTIAL 
       STAY OF THE RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES"
                  FILED JOINTLY BY
           131 RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES
                CC Docket No. 96-45
                          
              Released:  July 31, 1997
                          
     On July 17, 1997, 131 entities describing themselves as rural telephone
companies filed a joint petition for partial stay of the Commission's Report and
Order (FCC 97-157, rel. May 8, 1997) in the matter of the Federal-State Joint
Board on Universal Service, CC Docket No. 96-45 (the "Order").  The
petitioners request a stay of those portions of the order that (1) conclude that
the DEM weighting program constitutes universal service support that should
be funded through universal service support mechanisms rather than access
charges; (2) make universal service support, including support received
through dial equipment (DEM) weighting, portable; and (3) cap the amount of
corporate operations expense that rural telephone companies may recover
through the high cost loop fund.  Petitioners request that the Commission stay
these portions of the Order pending action on their concurrently filed petition
for reconsideration of these conclusions.

     Interested parties may file comments in support of or in opposition to
this petition on or before August 7, 1997.  All filings should refer to the
pleading as:  "Rural Telephone Companies' Joint Emergency Motion for Partial
Stay, CC Docket No. 96-45."  One original and five copies of all comments
must be sent to William F. Caton, Acting Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Two copies
also should be sent to Sheryl Todd, Universal Service Branch, Accounting and
Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau, 2100 M Street, N.W., 8th Floor,
Washington, D.C. 20554.  In addition, two copies should be sent to Office of
General Counsel, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W.,
Room 614, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies of documents filed with the
Commission, including the petition, may be obtained from the International
Transcription Service, 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C.
20037, (202) 857- 3800.  Documents are also available for review and copying
at the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C., from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

     For further information, contact Sheryl Todd, Universal Service
Branch, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202)
418-7400.

                       - FCC -