PUBLIC NOTICE
	Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov
	DA 98-2045 Released: October 9, 1998
	COMMISSION TO HOLD EN BANCS REGARDING TELECOM MERGERS
	The Federal Communications Commission will hold two En Bancs to discuss recent consolidation activities in the telecommunications industry, focusing on the proposed mergers between SBC Communications, Inc. and Ameritech Corporation (CC Docket No. 98-141), AT&T Corp. and Tele-Communications, Inc. (CSB Docket No. 98-178), and Bell Atlantic Corporation and GTE Corporation (CC Docket No. 98-184). The purpose of these En Bancs is to assist the Commission in determining whether these mergers are consistent with the goals of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which include promoting competition in telecommunications markets and protecting the public interest. The first En Banc will take place on Thursday, October 22, 1998, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the second En Banc will be scheduled at a later date. Both En Bancs will be held in the Commission Meeting Room (Room 856) at 1919 M. Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. At the first En Banc, the merger applicants will discuss the details of their merger plans. At the second En Banc, other interested parties will discuss the proposed mergers' impact on telecommunications markets. The En Bancs are open to the public, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. The En Bancs also will be carried live on the Internet. Internet users may listen to the real-time audio feed of the En Bancs by accessing the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. Step-by-step instructions on how to listen to the audio broadcast, as well as information regarding the equipment and software needed, are available on the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. The URL address for this home page is http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/. A transcript of each En Banc will be available 10 days after the event on the FCC's Internet site. The URL address for the FCC's Internet Home Page is http://www.fcc.gov. Transcripts may be obtained from the FCC's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Service, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, by calling ITS at (202) 857-3800 or faxing ITS at (202) 857-3805. Audio and video tapes of the En Bancs may be purchased from Infocus, 341 Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100 or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111. For additional information contact: Florence Grasso at 418-1579 News media contact: Rochelle Cohen at 418-0253