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                                                                  DA 98-339
                                Before the
                     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20554


In the Matter of)
     )
Petition of LCI Telecom Corp.    )
for Declaratory Rulings          )     CC Docket No. 98-5
     )     


                                   ORDER

     Adopted:  February 20, 1998 Released:  February 20,
1998

By The Chief, Policy and  Program Planning Division, Common Carrier Bureau:

     
     1.    On February 18, 1998, the Competitive Telecommunications Association
(CompTel) and the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA)
filed motions seeking an extension of time to file comments regarding the above-captioned
petition for declaratory rulings filed by LCI International Telecom Corp. (LCI).  In its
petition, LCI proposes that the Regional Bell Operating Companies be allowed "Fast Track"
entry into the long distance market if they agree to separate their retail and wholesale
activities.  
     
     2.      In its motion, CompTel states that the LCI petition raises extremely complex
legal and policy issues which it is currently studying.   CompTel believes that a brief, two-
week extension of time will allow it and all other interested parties to examine the proposal
more fully before filing comments.  NASUCA requests a 30-day extension of time in which
to file comments, arguing that because of the breadth of the subject matter, additional time is
needed to study the issues and determine if the proposal "is in the best interests of
consumers."
     
     3.    On February 19, 1998, LCI filed a letter stating that it does not oppose a 30-
day extension of the deadline for filing comments on its petition.  LCI states that it believes a
30-day extension of both the comment and reply comment dates would be consistent with the
goals of its petition.  On this same date, the Ad Hoc Telecommunications Users Committee,
the Competition Policy Institute, and MCI Telecommunications Corporation filed comments
in support of the NASUCA motion for a 30-day extension of time in which to file comments. 
On February 20, 1998, NARUC filed a letter supporting the NASUCA request for an
extension of the comment cycle an additional 30 days.  
     
     4.    It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time are not routinely
granted.  In this instance, however, no party objects to a 30-day extension of the deadline
for filing comments regarding the LCI petition.  Moreover, the petitioning party, LCI, does
not oppose the 30-day extension request.  Under these circumstances, we will grant all
parties a 30-day extension of the deadline for filing comments regarding the LCI petition. 
Reply comments will be due 30 days from the date initial comments are due. 

     5.    Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the motions for extension of time filed by
the Competitive Telecommunications Association and the National Association of State
Utility Consumer Advocates ARE GRANTED and the deadline for filing comments in this
proceeding  IS EXTENDED until March 23, 1998.  The deadline for filing reply comments
IS EXTENDED  until April 22, 1998.  


     FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION




     Carol Mattey
     Chief, Policy and Program Planning Division
     Common Carrier Bureau