NEWS
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
445 12th STREET, S.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                           

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.News media information 202/418-0500
Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830
See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov   ftp.fcc.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: 
                                        Michael Balmoris (202) 418-0253


Report No. CC 99-42   COMMON CARRIER ACTION    September 15, 1999

      FCC SEEKS COMMENT ON INDUSTRY COALITION'S PROPOSAL FOR
          INTERSTATE ACCESS AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE REFORM
           (CC Docket Nos. 96-262, 94-1, 99-249, 96-45)

     Washington, DC -- Today the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
seeking comment on a proposal submitted by the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long
Distance Service (CALLS) on July 29, 1999.  The CALLS Proposal is an interstate universal
service and interstate access reform plan covering price cap incumbent local exchange carriers.  
     The CALLS Proposal is an integrated proposal developed through negotiation among the
local exchange carriers and the interexchange carriers who make up the coalition.  CALLS
members are AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, GTE, Sprint, and SBC.  The CALLS members
offer the proposal as a comprehensive solution to the membership's access charge, universal
service, and price cap concerns.  It is designed to be implemented over a five-year period
beginning in January 2000 and would apply to those carriers who voluntarily elect to participate.

     Through the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released today, the Commission invites
comment on whether it should adopt the CALLS proposal in its entirety, as requested by the
CALLS members, or whether certain elements of the proposal should be incorporated into any of
the Commission's concurrent efforts to reform interstate access charges and universal service. 
Commenting parties are also invited to propose alternative plans to that submitted by CALLS. 
Comments must be filed with the Commission not later than Friday, October 29, 1999, and replies
must be filed not later than Friday, November 19, 1999.

     Action by the Commission, September 14, 1999, by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC
99-235).  Chairman Kennard and Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani.

Common Carrier Bureau contact:  Janice Jamison at (202) 418-1520

                              -FCC-