Report No. WT 96-4            WIRELESS ACTION             February 29, 1996


           FCC AMENDS RULES TO CONFORM THE AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE
       RULES TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

     Pursuant to the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the Commission
has revised its rules for the Amateur Radio Service to remove
unnecessary and outdated regulations.

     Specifically, the Commission has removed the conflict-of-
interest provisions pertaining to administration of amateur
operator license examinations.  The Commission also eliminated
the requirement that volunteer examiners (VEs) and volunteer-
examiner coordinators (VECs) who administer and coordinate
amateur operator examinations maintain records of out-of-pocket
expenses and annually certify those expenses to the FCC.  

     The Commission believes these rule changes are consistent
with the requirements of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, and
that they will further the public interest by eliminating
unnecessary regulatory burdens.  The Commission stated that these
rule changes implement the intent of Congress in enacting the
1996 Telecommunications Act; are non-controversial in nature and;
therefore are unlikely to generate public comment.  Accordingly,
the Commission found that notice and comment is unnecessary.

     Action by the Commission February 28, 1996, by Order (FCC
96-74).  Chairman Chairman, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness,
and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Maurice J.
DePont at (202) 418-0690.