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Federal Communications Commission
1919 - M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

News media information 202/632-5050. Recored listings of releases and texts 202/632-0002.



File No. WTB/POL 97-1 April 29, 1997


PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING FILED

COMMISSION SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING
FILED BY AIRTOUCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


Comments Due : June 16, 1997 ; Replies Due : July 7, 1997


On April 18, 1997, AirTouch Communications, Inc. (AirTouch) filed a Petition for Declaratory Ruling asking that the Commission clarify its policy regarding the permissibility of optional arrangements which allow resellers of wireless telecommunications services to obtain discounts in exchange for exclusive service commitments, under the terms of the Communications Act of 1934 and Section 20.12 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §. 20.12.

AirTouch maintains that there is some confusion over the legality of such optional arrangements and asks the Commission to address whether its wireless resale policies permit exclusive service commitments if offered on an optional basis. Comments are invited on AirTouch's petition.

All filings concerning AirTouch's petition should make reference to that petition and to WTB/Pol 97-1, and must be sent to the office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. A copy of each filing also must be sent to International Transcription Service (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800, and to Rita McDonald, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Policy Division, 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 5202, Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments may be filed not later than June 16, 1997, and reply comments may be filed not later than July 7, 1997.

All filings concerning AirTouch's petition should make reference to that petition and to WTB/POL 97-1, and must be sent to the office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. A copy of each filing also must be sent to International Transcription Service (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 20037, (202) 857-3800, and to Rita McDonald, Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Policy Division, 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 5202, Washington, D.C. 20554.

Parties are encouraged to submit comments and reply comments on diskette. Such diskette submissions would be in addition to and not a substitute for the formal filing requirements presented above. Parties submitting diskettes should submit them to Rita McDonald of the WTB Policy Division. Such a submission should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM compatible form using WordPerfect 5.1 for Windows software. The diskette should be submitted in "read only" mode, and should be clearly labelled with the party's name, proceeding (WTB/Pol 97-1), type of pleading (comment or reply comment) and date of submission.

Copies of Air Touch's petition are available for public inspection and copying in the Policy Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 5202, Washington, D.C. Copies also are available from ITS. Pursuant to Section 1.1206 of the Commission's Rules, 47 CFR § 1.1206, this proceeding will be conducted as a non-restricted proceeding in which ex parte communications are permitted but subject to disclosure.

For further information contact Rita McDonald at (202) 418-1310.

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