PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                             DA 98-40

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


                                                  Released: January 9, 1998


              Sprint Corporation 's Request for Declaratory
                  Ruling Regarding Application of PICCs

                       Pleading Cycle Established


COMMENTS:  February 10, 1998

REPLY COMMENTS:  February 25, 1998

        On December 31, 1997, Sprint Communications Co. L.P. (Sprint), filed a Petition for
Declaratory Ruling.  Sprint seeks a ruling that an interexchange carrier (IXC) that has terminated service
to a presubscribed customer for nonpayment or for violation of any other term or condition in the IXC's
tariff is not liable for presubscribed interexchange carrier charges (PICCs) with respect to such customer's
lines if the IXC has made a timely notification to the local exchange carrier (LEC) that it has discontinued
service to the customer. 

        Sprint states that sometimes it is necessary to terminate service to customers either for
nonpayment or for other violations of terms and conditions of service set forth in its tariffs.   Sprint notes
that some customers who do not undertake promptly to change their presubscribed IXC, such as
customers who seldom make long distance calls, or customers who utilize the service of a "dial-around"
IXC, could remain presubscribed to Sprint in the LEC's switch, after their business relationship with
Sprint is severed. 

        Interested parties may file comments on Sprint's  petition  no later than  February 10, 1998.
Replies must be filed by February 25, 1998. When filing comments and/or replies, please reference the
internal file number: CCB/CPD 98-2.

        An original and four copies of all comments and replies must be filed in accordance with Section
1.51(c) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.51(c).  In addition, one copy of  each pleading must
be
filed with International Transcription Services (ITS), the Commission's duplicating contractor, at its office
at 1231 - 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 and one copy with the Chief, Competitive Pricing
Division, Room 518, 1919 M Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20554.

           For further information contact, Wanda M. Harris, Competitive Pricing Division, Common
Carrier
Bureau, (202) 418-1530.
                             
                                 -  FCC -