PUBLIC NOTICE
                                                                              
   Federal Communications Commission
   1919 M St., N.W.
   Washington, D.C. 20554

                                                                              

                                                                              
O                                                              ctober 15, 1997

                        RECORD IMAGING PROCESSING SYSTEM
                        CURTAILS OPERATION ON FRIDAYS
                                       
                                       

   Effective Friday, October 24, 1997, and every Friday until further notice, the Office of
 Public Affairs, Reference Operations Division, will shut down the Record Image Processing
 System (RIPS) from public and staff access.    The Commission is in the process of
 replacing RIPS, the Commission's aging document imaging system, which currently provides
 access to all docketed and rulemaking proceedings  (images and histories) with a new
 electronic processing system.    In order to ensure the smooth transition from RIPS to the
 replacement system, Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), the Commission must limit
 access to RIPS to expedite the migration process.   Therefore, the hours of operation for
 RIPS will be Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only.   In order to ensure
 timely access to any major filings the hours of operation for RIPS may be modified without
 further notice.

   As always, duplicates of current filings are available for viewing in Room 230 during
 normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and photocopies can
 be made at the self-serve copiers in Room 239 during these hours.  During these scheduled
 Friday closings any urgent requests for information will be addressed on a case-by-case
 basis by contacting the Reference Operations Division located at 1919 M Street, N.W., Room
 239, (202) 418-0270.  

   For further information you may contact Patricia Rawlings at (202) 418-0294 or Bill Cline
 at (202) 418-0267.


                                     -FCC-