PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202/418-0500 Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222. DA 98-469 COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON U S WEST PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM BARRIERS TO DEPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES CC DOCKET NO. 98-26 Released: March 6, 1998 On February 25, 1998, U S WEST Communications, Inc., filed a petition in which it asks the Commission to forbear from imposing certain regulatory restrictions that U S WEST contends "frustrate the deployment to rural America of advanced telecommunications capabilities." In its petition, U S WEST states that section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 directs the Commission to forbear from applying rules that hinder the rapid development and deployment of innovative new technologies. Specifically, U S WEST asks the Commission to: (1) allow it to build and operate packet- and cell-switched data networks across LATA boundaries within its in-region states; (2) permit it to carry in-region, interLATA data traffic incident to its provision of digital subscriber line services; (3) forbear from requiring U S WEST to unbundle for its competitors the non-bottleneck network elements used to provide these data services; and (4) forbear from requiring U S WEST to make these competitive services available at a wholesale discount for resale. Interested parties are to file an original and 12 copies of their comments on the U S WEST petition no later than April 6, 1998, with the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. An original and 12 copies of all reply comments are to be filed with the Secretary, FCC no later than May 6, 1998. All pleadings are to reference CC Docket No. 98-26. An additional copy of all pleadings must also be sent to Janice M. Myles, Common Carrier, Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and to the Commission's contractor for public service records duplication, International Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. The U S WEST petition is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC's Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies also can be obtained from ITS at 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, or by calling ITS at (202)-857-3800 or faxing ITS at 202-857-3805. We will treat this proceeding as permit, but disclose for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. See generally 47 C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216. Parties making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain a summary of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. See 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b)(2), as revised. Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) as well. Interested parties are to file with the Commission Secretary, and serve Janice M. Myles and ITS with copies of any written ex parte presentations or summaries of oral ex parte presentations in these proceedings in the manner specified above. We also require all written ex parte presentations or summaries of oral ex parte presentations in this proceeding to be served on all parties to the proceeding. - FCC - $// PN, Bell Atlantic Petition, DA 98-184, CC 98-11 //$ $/ 47 USC  230(b)(1) & (2) /$