NEWSReport No. MM 96-13      MASS MEDIA ACTION                March 8, 1996

            FCC DELEGATES ITFS PROCESSING AUTHORITY TO STAFF 
      THUS INCREASING EFFICIENCY AND IMPLEMENTING ANOTHER PROVISION
                     OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT 
                                    
     The Federal Communications Commission has delegated to its staff the authority to
process and grant from mutually exclusive applications for Instructional Television Fixed
Service (ITFS) facilities, thereby speeding the processing of ITFS applications and
implementing another provision of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. 

     The Telecommunications Act permits, but does not require, the Commission to
delegate hearing authority for ITFS applications to the staff. The Commission said that
exercising this option would serve the public interest and complement recent rule changes
designed to increase ITFS processing efficiency. The Commission further noted that the staff
is familiar with the many legal and technical issues involved in applying for ITFS facilities,
and the delegation of hearing authority will therefore allow more rapid authorization and
initiation of service to the public.

     In the past, mutually exclusive applications for new ITFS facilities were resolved by
the full Commission in a paper hearing by means of a point accumulation system. Each
applicant was assigned a score based on information submitted with its application, and the
Commission then determined which applicant would be the most qualified to serve the public
interest.

     Action by the Commission March 7, 1996, by Order (FCC 96-92). Chairman Hundt,
Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong.

                                  - FCC -

     News Media contact: Rochelle Cohen at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact: Paul R. Gordon at (202) 418-2130.