NEWSReport No. DC 96-56    ACTION IN DOCKET CASE              June 24, 1996

          FCC TAKES STEPS TO INITIATE ELECTRONIC COMMENT FILING

     The FCC today announced its  plans to open a proceeding to allow
electronic filing of formal comments in rulemaking proceedings and
online access to those comments.  Today's announcement begins the
process of revising outdated rules and clearing the way for the
expanded use of new technologies at the FCC.

     The Commission announced this rulemaking at an open forum on
using the Internet to access information from and communicate with
the FCC.  The challenge of meeting the workload and deadlines of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 has  prompted the Commission to
seek ways to make it easier for the public to file and review comments. 
In several major proceedings, parties have been invited to file diskettes
along with their comments, or to file informal comments via electronic
mail.   The upcoming proceeding, and internal initiatives to modernize
systems for processing comments, are designed to realize the full
potential of electronic filing to aid the Commission in the challenging
task of implementing the 1996 Act.  

     In February, the Commission issued a Notice of Inquiry (PP 96-17)
in which it asked how computer technology and the Internet could be
used to improve FCC procedures.  In response, the vast majority of
commenters advocated expanded use of electronic filing.  The
Commission's rules currently require formal comments to be filed on
paper, so a rulemaking proceeding will be necessary to allow comments
filed via electronic mail or diskette to be treated in the same manner as
paper comments. 

     Electronic filing of comments will help streamline FCC procedures
so that materials can be made available more quickly and more cheaply,
and will give members of the public a fuller opportunity to participate
in the actions of the Commission.  This effort is also consistent with
recent and pending Congressional initiatives that require government
agencies to expand the use of electronic filing.  Finally, expanding its
use of electronic filing demonstrates the Commission's commitment to
"reinventing government" and using technology to better serve the
American people.

  -FCC-

News Media contact: Audrey Spivack or Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-
0500.
Office of Plans and Policy contact: Kevin Werbach or Donnajean Ward
at (202) 418-2030






     June 24, 1996

Statement of Chairman Reed E. Hundt Regarding
Annou   ncement of Upcoming Electronic Comment Filing Proceeding

     Today's announcement that the FCC will soon begin a proceeding
on electronic comment filing is a significant step in our efforts to make
the Commission more accessible and more responsive to the public. 
Our goal in this effort is to make it easier for the public to participate
in the historic task of implementing the Telecommunications Act of
1996, and to contribute to other important FCC proceedings.  Electronic
filing will also allow us to post comments on the FCC Internet site
shortly after they are filed, so that individuals and organizations --
especially those outside of Washington -- can obtain comments quickly
and at no charge.  

     Over the past two years, the Commission has substantially
improved its methods for processing and distributing information.   In
February, we issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking ideas for how we could
improve and streamline our internal procedures, and electronic filing
was high on the list of virtually every commenter.  We have already
invited parties to file copies of their comments on diskette in major
proceedings, and have placed the electronic versions of those comments
on our Internet site.  On issues of particular interest to the Internet
community, we have opened electronic mailboxes to receive informal
comments, although our current rules prevent us from accepting formal
comments via email.  

     The proceeding that we announce today will allow us to eliminate
outdated restrictions, and to use the Internet to better serve the public. 
As the agency that oversees the communications industry, we ought to
do everything we can to take advantage of the new communications
revolution that the Internet represents.  For that reason, I eagerly look
forward to the initiation of the electronic comment filing proceeding.