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

In the Matter of                   )
                              )
Petition of LCI International Telecom   )    CC Docket No. 98-5
Corp. for Declaratory Ruling Concerning )
Bell Operating Company Entry into  )
In-Region Long Distance Markets         )


                              ORDER 

Adopted:  July 7, 1999                                   Released:  July 9, 1999


By the Commission:

     1.   In a filing dated January 22, 1998, LCI International Telecom Corp. (LCI)
petitioned the FCC for a declaratory ruling on its proposal regarding the Bell Operating
Companies' (BOCs') entry into in-region long distance markets.  In its petition, LCI asks the
FCC to take action on its proposal, captioned "A 'Fast Track' Plan To Expedite Residential Local
Competition and Section 271 Entry Through Establishment of Independent RBOC Wholesale
and Retail Service Companies" in order to promote local competition.  LCI asks the FCC to
declare there is a rebuttable presumption of compliance with section 271 if a Regional Bell
Operating Company voluntarily agrees  to separate its retail and wholesale activities as set forth
in LCI's proposal.

     2.   Twenty-nine parties filed comments, and 14 parties filed reply comments.  All the
BOCs opposed the petition.  Because no BOC was willing to endorse LCI's proposed model, we
conclude that it would not be productive to consider further this proposal at this time. 
Accordingly, we decline to issue the requested declaratory ruling and we dismiss the petition. 
Our dismissal of this petition is without prejudice to our consideration of any future proposal
regarding the regulatory consequences of a wholesale-retail separation.

     3.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the petition for declaratory ruling filed by
LCI International Telecom Corp. IS DISMISSED without prejudice and the docketed proceeding
IS TERMINATED. 


                              EDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION




                              Magalie Roman Salas
                              Secretary