Before the
               Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of 

Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture of 

U S WEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 

Licensee of Certain Authorizations in the          Personal Communications Service                )
)     
)
)
)
)
)
)

                              ORDER


Adopted:  May 4, 1999                        Released:  May 7, 1999   


By the Commission:  


     1.  The Commission has before it for consideration: (a) a Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture, 13 FCC Rcd 8286 (1998) ("NAL"), against U S WEST Communications, Inc.
("U S WEST"); and (b) a proposed Consent Decree between the Commission and U S WEST. 

     2.  The NAL found U S WEST, a participant in the Commission's Broadband Personal
Communications Services D, E, and F block auction, apparently liable for a forfeiture in the
total amount of $1,200,000.  Specifically, the NAL concluded that U S WEST apparently
violated Sections 1.2105(c) and 1.65 of the Commission's Rules as a consequence of telephone
communications during the auction between a U S WEST official and an official of another
auction participant, Western PCS BTA I, Corporation.

     3.  The Commission and U S WEST have negotiated the terms of a proposed Consent
Decree that would resolve this enforcement proceeding.  A copy of the proposed Consent
Decree is attached hereto.  

     4.  We have reviewed the Consent Decree and evaluated the circumstances of this
enforcement proceeding.  On balance, we believe that the public interest would be served by
approving the attached Consent Decree and terminating this proceeding.  In this regard, we
have taken into consideration a number of factors, including, but not limited to, U S WEST's
adoption of a comprehensive compliance program designed to ensure that U S WEST does not
henceforth engage in any auctions-related misconduct.  We also note that under the terms of
the Consent Decree, U S WEST will make a significant voluntary contribution to the United
States Treasury in the amount of $800,000.  

     5.  ACCORDINGLY, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i) and (j), that the Consent
Decree, incorporated by reference herein and attached to this Order, IS HEREBY ADOPTED.

     6.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Secretary SHALL SIGN the Consent Decree
on behalf of the Commission.

     7.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order is effective upon execution of the
Consent Decree by all parties to the Agreement.

     8.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above-captioned enforcement proceeding IS
TERMINATED.  


                    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


                         

                    Magalie Roman Salas
                    Secretary