$// PN, US West's Req. for Extension of VDT Trial W-P-C-6868 //$
$/  5 USC 214 /$



                                        DA 95-472
                         
                PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON
                     US WEST'S REQUEST FOR EXTENSION 
            OF ITS TECHNICAL TRIAL OF VIDEO DIALTONE SERVICE 

                            FILE NO. W-P-C-6868
                              
                                   Released:  March 13, 1995

     On March 8, 1995, US West Communications, Inc. (US West) filed
a request for an  extension of its Section 214 authorization to
conduct a technical trial of video dialtone service in portions of
the Omaha, Nebraska, area.  The Commission initially granted US
West limited authorization to conduct a technical trial for six
months and a market trial for twelve months.  (See Application of
US West Communications, Inc. For Authority under Section 214 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to construct, operate, own
and maintain facilities and equipment to provide video dialtone
service in portions of the Omaha, Nebraska service area,  9 FCC Rcd
184 (1993) (Order and Authorization).    

     US West believes that its authorization for the technical
trial may end on April 3, 1995.  US West states that it and its
programmer customers need additional time to test analog and
digital services, and that it expects to be in a position to
initiate its market trial in mid-June 1995.   US West, therefore,
requests an extension of its technical trial until it has an
effective market trial tariff in place or for a six month period,
whichever comes first.  

     Interested parties are invited to file comments or reply
comments on the request.  Comments should be filed by March 20,
1995, and reply comments should be filed by  March 24, 1995, with
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C.  20554.  Three copies should also be sent to
Peggy Reitzel, Common Carrier Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and to the Commission's contractor
for public service records duplication: ITS, Inc., 2100 M Street,
N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C.  20037.  Copies of the request
can be obtained from ITS at (202) 857-3800.  The request is
available for review and photocopying at the FCC Public Reference
Room, 6th Floor, 2025 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., from 8:30-
12:30 and 1:30-3:00, Monday through Thursday. 

     We will continue to treat this proceeding as non-restricted
for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules.  See generally 47
C.F.R.  1.1200-1.1216.  For further information contact Peggy
Reitzel, Policy and Program Planning Division of the Common Carrier
Bureau, at (202) 418-1579.

                                 - FCC -