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Report No. CC 96-6            COMMON CARRIER BUREAU ACTION        February 16, 1996

     
COMMON CARRIER BUREAU DISMISSES SECTION 214 APPLICATIONS I  N 
LIGHT OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996

            The Common Carrier Bureau's Network Services Division today took another
important step to implement the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "1996 Act"), which
was signed into law last week.  In two orders, the Division dismissed nineteen applications,
filed by common carriers or their affiliates, for authority under Section 214 of the
Communications Act of 1934.  In one order, the Division dismissed fourteen applications for
authority to acquire, construct, or operate facilities for the provision of video programming
services because the applications were no longer required under the 1996 Act.  In a separate
order, the Division granted five requests that it dismiss, without prejudice, applications for
authority to acquire, construct, extend or operate facilities for the provision of video
programming or channel services.

     The Division dismissed fourteen of the applications pursuant to Section 302(a) of the
1996 Act (which added new Section 651(c) to the Cable Communications Policy Act of
1984).  Under Section 302(a), the applicants are no longer required "to obtain a certificate
under Section 214 with respect to the establishment or operation of a system for the delivery
of video programming."  The Division found that the applicants met the requirements of
Section 302(a) and, as a result, were not required to obtain Section 214 authority for their
proposals.  Accordingly, the Division dismissed these fourteen applications as moot.

     The fourteen applications were filed by Shenandoah Cable Television Company (W-P-
C-7135); Consolidated Telephone Company (W-P-C-7136); Yadkin Valley Telephone
Membership Cooperative (W-P-C-7140); S&T Telephone Cooperative Association (W-P-C-
7141); Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative (W-P-C-7142); Montrose Mutual Telephone Company
(W-P-C-7143); Southern New England Telephone Company and SNET PersonalVision, Inc.
(W-P-C-7144); Dakota Cooperative Telecommunications, Inc. (W-P-C-7145); Columbus
Grove Telephone Company (W-P-C-7147); Molalla Telephone Company (W-P-C-7148); Great
Plains Communications, Inc. (W-P-C-7149, W-P-C-7150, and W-P-C-7151); and Roseville
Telephone Company (W-P-C-7152).

     In a separate order, the Division granted five requests by applicants for withdrawal of
their applications and dismissed the applications without prejudice.  These applications were
filed by BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. (W-P-C-7064 and W-P-C-7137); GTE Media
Ventures Incorporated (W-P-C-7133); Ameritech New Media Enterprises, Inc. (W-P-C-7134);
and Southwestern Bell Video Services, Inc. (W-P-C-7146).

     Action by the Deputy Chief, Network Services Division, Common Carrier Bureau,
February 16, 1996, by Order (DA 96-200) and Order (DA 96-201).

                                  - FCC -
     
     News Media contact:  Mindy J. Ginsburg at (202) 418-1500.
     Common Carrier Bureau contacts:  Lisa E. Boehley at (202) 418-2353 and Richard R.
Cameron at (202) 418-2326.