DAILY DIGESTVol. 15, No. 74 April 26, 1996
**Before an entry denotes that the item is part of the
FCC's implementation of the 1996 Telecom Act. While
we will attempt to flag all Telecom Act-related items, this
marking is unofficial and informational only.
* * * * * *
The following items were adopted at the April 25, 1996
Commission meeting and released later that day:
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NEWS RELEASES
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FCC ADOPTS PROPOSALS TO ENCOURAGE RAPID
PCS DEPLOYMENT THROUGH MODIFICATION OF
MICROWAVE RELOCATION RULES, ADOPTION OF
COST-SHARING PLAN - WT Docket No. 95-157 (Report
No. DC 96-38, Action in Docket Case)
The Commission adopted a Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the Microwave
Relocation proceeding that will promote the deployment of
broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS).
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996, by
R&O&FNPRM (FCC 96-196).
News Media contact: Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-
0654. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Linda
Kinney at (202) 418-0620. [Internet file name: nrwl6019.txt]
**COMMISSION PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO RULES
CONCERNING THE INSPECTION OF RADIO
INSTALLATIONS ON LARGE CARGO AND SMALL
PASSENGER SHIPS -- CI Docket No. 95-55 (Report No.
DC 96-34, Action in Docket Case)
The Commission has proposed to revise its rules
regarding the inspection of radio installations on large cargo
and small passenger ships to conform them to the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996, by
NPRM (FCC 96-194).
News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202)
418-0500. Compliance and Information Bureau contact:
George R. Dillon at (202) 418-1100. [Internet file name:
nrci5010.txt]
COMMISSION AMENDS RULES REGARDING THE
INSPECTION OF GREAT LAKES AGREEMENT SHIPS
-- CI Docket No. 95-54 (Report No. DC 96-35, Action in
Docket Case)
The Commission adopted rules that will require
owners and operators of ships subject to the annual
inspection requirements of the Agreement between the
United States and Canada for the Promotion of Safety on the
Great Lakes by Means of Radio (Great Lakes Agreement),
to have the inspection performed by an FCC licensed
technician, instead of by FCC staff.
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996, by R&O
(FCC 96-195).
News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202)
418-0500. Compliance and Information Bureau contact:
George R. Dillon at (202) 418-1100. [Internet file name:
nrci5011.txt]
COMMISSION PROPOSES TO MAKE SPECTRUM
AVAILABLE FOR USE BY NEW UNLICENSED
EQUIPMENT; NII/SUPERNET DEVICES WOULD
FACILITATE INTERCONNECTION TO THE NII -- ET
Docket No. 96-102 (Report No. DC 96-36, Action in Docket
Case)
The Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed
Rule Making to make available 350 megahertz of spectrum
at 5.15 - 5.35 GHz and 5.725 - 5.875 GHz for use by a new
category of unlicensed equipment called NII/SUPERNet
devices.
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996, by
NPRM (FCC 96-193).
News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-
0500. Office of Engineering and Technology contacts: Tom
Derenge at (202) 418-2451 and Fred Thomas at (202) 418-
2449. [Internet file name: nret6007.txt]
(cont.) **COMMISSION PROPOSES SIMPLE PROCEDURE FOR
UTILITY COMPANIES TO ENTER
TELECOMMUNICATIONS; FURTHERS PRO-
COMPETITIVE GOALS OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 -- GC Docket
No. 96-101 (Report No. DC 96-37, Action in Docket Case)
The Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule
Making that provides a simple procedure for determining
"exempt telecommunications company" ("ETC") status, thus
expediting the entry of public utility holding companies into
the telecommunications industry consistent with the pro-
competitive, de-regulatory thrust of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996.
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996, by
NPRM (FCC 96-192).
News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-
0500. Office of General Counsel contacts: James W. Olson,
Lawrence Spiwak, or Martin Stern at (202) 418-1880.
[Internet file name: nrmc6035.txt]
* * * * * *
The following items are dated for and released April 26,
1996.
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NEWS RELEASES
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COMMISSION ADOPTS REPORT AND ORDER AND
FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
REGARDING DEFINITION OF MARKETS FOR
PURPOSES OF THE CABLE TELEVISION BROADCAST
SIGNAL CARRIAGE RULES -- CC Docket No. 95-178
(Report No. CS 96-20, Action in Docket Case)
The Commission has decided to continue to use
Arbitron's 1991-1992 "Area of Dominant Influence" or
"ADI" market list for purposes of determining local
television markets for commercial broadcast television
stations' 1996 must-carry/retransmission consent election and
to use Nielson's Designated Market Areas" or "DMAs" to
define markets beginning with the 1999 election.
Action by the Commission April 25, 1996 by
Order and FNPRM (FCC 96-197).
News Media contact: Morgan Broman at (202) 418-
7200. Cable Services Bureau contact: Marcia Glauberman at
(202) 418-7200.
**COMMON CARRIER BUREAU'S TARIFF DIVISION
BECOMES THE COMPETITION PRICING DIVISION
(Report No. CC 96-12)
The Common Carrier Bureau has changed the name
of its Tariff Division to the Competitive Pricing Division and
assigned new responsibilities to the Division.
Common Carrier Bureau contact: Mindy Ginsburg
at (202) 418-1500. [Internet file name: nrcc6031.txt]
**WTB RELEASES FACT SHEET ON NEW NATIONAL
WIRELESS TOWER SITING POLICIES
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has
released a Fact Sheet to explain the new tower siting
provisions under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
News Media contact: Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-
0654.
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PUBLIC NOTICES
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COMMENTS SOUGHT ON REQUEST FOR IVDS RULE
WAIVER -- Comments due May 7, replies May 17 --[DA
96-643]
PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS
ON SWBT'S COMPARABLY EFFICIENT
INTERCONNECTION PLANS FOR SECURITY SERVICE
-- CC Docket Nos. 85-229, 90-623 and 95-20 -- Comments
due May 24, replies June 7 [DA 96-645]
FIDELITY TELEPHONE COMPANY AND BOURBEUSE
TELEPHONE COMPANY REQUEST WAIVER OF
COMMISSION'S BALLOTING AND ALLOCATION
PROCEDURES -- Comments due May 6, replies May 13
[DA 96-646]
TARIFF TRANSMITTAL PUBLIC REFERENCE LOG --
April 25
EX PARTE PRESENTATIONS AND POST-REPLY
COMMENT PERIOD FILINGS IN NON-RESTRICTED
PROCEEDINGS
NOTICE TO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
Report No. 23725 -- BROADCAST APPLICATIONS
Report No. 43725 -- BROADCAST ACTIONS
Report No. N-018-A -- COMMON CARRIER NETWORK
SERVICES APPLICATIONS
Report No. LB-96-25 -- WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU COMMERCIAL
WIRELESS SERVICE INFORMATION
Report No. CL-96-44 -- WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU COMMERCIAL
RADIO SERVICE INFORMATION
Report No. CL-96-45 -- WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU COMMERCIAL
RADIO SERVICES INFORMATION
Report No. 1845 -- WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BUREAU -- Week of April 15 through April 19
Report No. TEL-9-A -- NON-STREAMLINED
INTERNATIONAL SECTION 214 AND CABLE
LANDING LICENSE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR
FILING (Formal Sec. 63.01 and 1.767)(1a)
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TEXTS
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BROADCAST BLANKETING INTERFERENCE
PROBLEMS. Proposed a number of rule amendments
designed to facilitate the resolution of broadcast blanketing
interference problems. Comments are due June 25, replies
July 25. (MM Docket No. 96-62 by NPRM [FCC 96-124]
adopted March 21, 1996, by the Commission)
COMPARATIVE BROADCAST SETTLEMENTS. Denied
a petition for partial reconsideration and/or clarification filed
by John W. Barger and August Communications Group,
denied an emergency request for immediate declaratory
ruling filed by Gene A. Bechtel, and dismissed a motion for
extension of settlement deadline filed by Grass Roots Radio,
Inc. (By MO&O [FCC 96-179] adopted April 18, 1996, by
the Commission)
**ERRATUM TO NPRM [FCC 96-182] released April 19,
1996, in the matter of implementation of the local
competition provisions of the Telecommunications Act of
1996. [CC Docket No. 96-98]
CABLE SERVICES BUREAU
DAILY DIGEST
Released Friday, April 26, 1996
TCI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Adopted a resolution
submitted by TCI and the Cable Services Bureau that will
resolve approximately 2,000 rate complaints filed against
TCI. (By Order [FCC 96-187] adopted April 25, 1996, by
the Commission)
POST-NEWSWEEK CABLE, INC. Granted complaints
filed against the rate charged for cable programming services
in Santa Rosa, CA. (By MO&O [DA 96-591] adopted
April 16, 1996 by the Chief, Cable Services Bureau)
UNITED ARTISTS CABLE OF BALTIMORE. Denied the
petitions for reconsideration and affirmed the Cable Services
Bureau Order in the United Artists Cable of Baltimore
proceeding. (By MO&O [FCC 96-188] adopted April 24,
1996 by the Commission)
* * * * *
Addenda: The following items released on April 25, 1996,
were not listed on Digest No. 73.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
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WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU
SOLICITS BUSINESS PLANS FROM PARTIES
INTERESTED IN BECOMING THE CLEARINGHOUSE
THAT WILL ADMINISTER THE 2 GHZ RELOCATION
COST-SHARING PLAN -- Business plans must be received
by May 24, comments by June 10. [DA 96-647]
GREEN HILLS TELEPHONE CORP. AND WHEELING
TELEPHONE CO. Granted the petition filed by Green Hills
and Wheeling for waiver of the definition of "study area."
(By MO&O [DA 96-644] adopted April 25, 1996, by the
Chief, Accounting and Audits Division, Common Carrier
Bureau)
**UTILITY COMPANIES. See the fifth news release in
today's digest.
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SPEECHES
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REMARKS OF CHAIRMAN REED HUNDT, APRIL 25,
1996, WASHINGTON, DC, AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
OF HIGHER EDUCATION, "COMMUNICATIONS AND
HIGHER EDUCATION: BRIDGING THE PAST AND
FUTURE" [Internet file name: spreh619.txt]
REMARKS OF MICHELE C. FARQUHAR, CHIEF OF
THE FCC'S WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BUREAU, APRIL 25, 1996, BEFORE THE NATIONAL
WIRELESS RESELLERS ASSOCIATION
REMARKS OF MICHELE C. FARQUHAR, CHIEF OF
THE FCC'S WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS
BUREAU, APRIL 24, 1996, WASHINTON, DC, BEFORE
BELLCORE'S "BUSINESS STRATEGIES FOR TELECOM
REFORM CONFERENCE"
- FCC -