PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                 DA 97-1003

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                          Released:  May 9, 1997 

    PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON MCI PETITION
      FOR DECLARATORY RULING REGARDING THE JOINT MARKETING
          RESTRICTION IN SECTION 271(E)(1) OF THE ACT 
                     (CC DOCKET NO. 96-149)
                                
     On May 1, 1997, MCI Telecommunications Corporation (MCI) filed a petition for
declaratory ruling regarding the joint marketing restriction in section 271(e)(1) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended.  

     Section 271(e)(1) prohibits certain interexchange carriers, including MCI, from
marketing jointly interLATA services with telephone exchange service purchased for resale from
a Bell Operating Company (BOC) in an in-region state until the earlier of February 8, 1999, or
the date on which the BOC is authorized to provide interLATA services in such state.  On
December 24, 1996, the Commission released a report and order in which the Commission
discussed, among other things, the joint marketing restriction in section 271(e)(1), and the
marketing practices that it interpreted section 271(e)(1) to proscribe and to permit.  See
Implementation of the Non-Accounting Safeguards of Sections 271 and 272 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, First Report and Order and Further Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, CC Docket No. 96-149, FCC 96-489 (rel. December 24, 1996) (Non-
Accounting Safeguards Order), petitions for recon. pending.  

     MCI seeks a declaratory ruling regarding how the rules the Commission adopted in the
Non-Accounting Safeguards Order concerning the joint marketing restriction in section 271(e)(1)
would apply to certain MCI marketing materials.  MCI states that a declaratory ruling would
terminate a significant controversy and remove substantial uncertainty in the marketplace.  

     Comments and reply comments in response to this Public Notice must comply with
Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules.  Comments must be filed on or before June
9, 1997, and reply comments must be filed on or before June 24, 1997.  Comments and reply
comments must be filed with the Secretary, FCC, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20554.  Two copies of comments and reply comments should be sent to Janice Myles, Common
Carrier Bureau, FCC, Room 544, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  One copy
should also be sent to the Commission's contractor for public service records duplication,
International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington,
D.C. 20037.  Parties filing comments in this proceeding should include the docket number, CC
Docket No. 96-149, on their pleadings.  The MCI petition for declaratory ruling, comments and
reply comments will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC
Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies can also
be obtained from ITS at 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, or by calling
(202) 857-3800.  

     For further information relating to MCI's petition for declaratory ruling contact
Christopher Heimann, Policy and Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau, at (202)
418-1580.

                             - FCC -