PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                  DA 98-694

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                          Released: April 9, 1998

Bell Atlantic Petition for Waiver of 1998 Annual Access Tariff Filings
                                
                       CCB/CPD No. 98-28

                   Pleading Cycle Established


COMMENTS:  April 29, 1998

REPLY COMMENTS:  May 11, 1998

     On April 3, 1998, Bell Atlantic Telephone Companies (Bell Atlantic) filed a Petition for Waiver
concerning its 1998 annual access tariff filings.  Bell Atlantic requests a waiver to allow it to apply, in its
upcoming 1998 annual access tariffs, a portion of the price cap reductions due to the productivity offset in the
price cap rules for the pre-merger Bell Atlantic to the non-facilities-based portion of the transport
interconnection charge for the former NYNEX companies.  

     In its petition, Bell Atlantic states that applying more of the X-factor reductions to the transport
interconnection charge for the former NYNEX companies will bring this rate closer to the substantially lower
corresponding rate for the other Bell Atlantic companies.  Bell Atlantic notes that using the X-factor reductions
to eliminate this disparity would further the Commission's objective of eliminating the residual transport
interconnection charge as quickly as possible, an objective it adopted in part because of its concern that
continuing to recover non-traffic sensitive costs through a per minute rate could artificially depress demand. 

     
     Interested parties may file comments on Bell Atlantic's petition no later than April 29, 1998. Replies
must be filed by May 11, 1998. When filing comments and/or replies, please reference the internal file number:
CCB/CPD 98-28.

     An original and four copies of all comments and replies must be filed in accordance with Section
1.51(c) of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.51(c).  In addition, one copy of  each pleading must be
filed with International Transcription Services (ITS), the Commission's duplicating contractor, at its office
at 1231 - 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 and one copy with the Chief, Competitive Pricing
Division, Room 518, 1919 M Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20554.

           For further information contact, Yvonne Hawkins, Competitive Pricing Division, Common Carrier
Bureau, (202) 418-1530.
                             
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