PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 98-448 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: March 4, 1998 CPD FILE NUMBER ESTABLISHED On February 11, 1998, the Commission received a letter from Mr. Roy Neel, President and CEO of the United States Telephone Association (USTA) to William E. Kennard, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) alleging that interexchange carriers have not been passing along to the benefit of their customers the access charge savings resulting from orders issued by the Commission. On February 26, 1998, A. Richard Metzger, Jr., Chief, of the Common Carrier Bureau responded to USTA's letter of February 11, 1998, concerning the customer impact of the changes in the Commission's interstate access and universal service rules. On February 26, 1998 in a letter to MCI, AT&T and Sprint, the Chairman requested that the three carriers provide the Commission with specific information addressing the substance of the USTA concerns. By letter of March 2, 1998, MCI responded to the Chairman's letter, by stating that MCI's long distance rates have dropped further and faster than have access rates and that its customers have received nearly half a billion dollars of additional savings since July 1, 1997. The above-mentioned letters are available for public inspection and may be viewed in the Common Carrier Bureau Public Reference Room during the hours of operation, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 575 Washington, D.C. 20554. To request viewing of this file please ask for the internal file number CCB/CPD 98-13. Any additional responses to the Chairman's February 26, 1998 letter will also be made available for public inspection in that file number. For further information contact Wanda M. Harris, Competitive Pricing Division, Common Carrier Bureau at (202) 418-1530. - FCC -