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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission

State Capitol Pierre, SD 57501-5070

Phone: (605) 773-3201 Fax: (605) 773-3809

These are the telecommunications service filings that the Commission has received for the period of: 10/11/96 through 10/17/96

If you need a complete copy of a filing faxed, overnight expressed, or mailed to you, please contact Delaine Kolbo @ 605-773-3705 within five days of this filing.

REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

TC96-176 Application by Touch 1 Long Distance, Inc. for a Certificate of Authority to operate as a telecommunications company within the State of South Dakota. (Staff: TH/KC)

"Touch 1 Long Distance proposes to operate as a reseller of intrastate interexchange services in South Dakota. Touch 1 Long Distance will offer a full range of 1+ interexchange services to the public in South Dakota, including MTS, WATS, 800, and calling card services as set forth in its proposed tariff. Touch 1 Long Distance will provide service over the transmission facilities of other interexchange carriers, primarily those of its affiliate WorldCom Network Services, Inc. d/b/a WilTel Network Services."Date Filed: 10/15/96 Intervention Deadline: 11/01/96

FULLY COMPETITIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS FILINGS

WorldCom, Inc. d/b/a LDDS WorldCom filed to increase the per call charge for Directory Assistance. The revision is effective October 12, 1996.

Date Filed: 10/11/96

Qcc, Incorporated filed a replacement tariff. The new tariff is effective October 25, 1996.

Date Filed: 10/15/96

NEWS RELEASE

PIERRE, SD-- Federal rules implementing portions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 have been derailed. Yesterday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals granted South Dakota and other states a stay of portions of the rules drafted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). These rules were to become effective on September 30, 1996.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) along with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and a number of other states have appealed the federal rules to the Eighth Circuit. Only three other state utility commissions have joined South Dakota in asking the court to stay the implementation of the rules pending a final decision on the appeal.

"The FCC exceeded the authority granted it by the Telecommunications Act and recklessly invaded the jurisdiction of state commissions," said South Dakota PUC Chairman Ken Stofferahn. "The FCC rules are an attempt to use a "one-size-fits-all" approach to deregulation. We don't agree with the FCC's approach. We know South Dakota and we know how to deregulate. We have and want to keep a modern telecommunications system and we want everyone to benefit from competition. Poorly implemented deregulation would do more harm than good. We will not support any deregulatory policy which will harm the South Dakota customers."

Stofferahn added, "Congress recognized the necessary states' role in deregulation when it wrote the Telecommunications Act of 1996. We believe the FCC simply ignored Congressional intent when it came rule-writing time. Apparently the Eighth Circuit agrees with us."

Important Notice: The Commission is compiling a list of internet e-mail addresses.

If you have an internet e-mail address please notify the Commission by:

E-mailing it to Terry Norum at: terryn@puc.state.sd.us

Faxing the address to the Commission at: 605-773-3809