CCC   PPPPP   U    U    CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W  W  W   SSS
 C   C  P    p  U    U   C   C      NN   N  E      W  W  W  S   S
C       P    P  U    U  C           N N  N  E      W  W  W  S
C       PPPPP   U    U  C           N N  N  EEE    W W W W   SSS
C       P       U    U  C           N  N N  E      WW   WW      S
 C   C  P       U    U   C   C      N   NN  E      W     W  S   S
  CCC   P        UUUU     CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W     W   SSS

CONTACT: Kyle DeVine             December 20, 1996   CPUC - 566
         213-897-4225                             (I.93-12-007)

       CPUC STREAMLINES REGULATION FOR WIRELESS CARRIERS

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today
announced it would cease rate regulation and tariffing
requirements for wireless telecommunications companies including
cellular, two-way paging, Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio
Services, and personal communications services (PCS) which are
collectively classified as commercial mobile radio service
(CMRS) providers.  The Commission will continue to hear formal
complaints and provide consumers assistance in resolving
service-related disputes except on matters involving rates.
    Today's action is part of an ongoing effort by the CPUC to
streamline its regulation to adjust regulatory policies in
response to the fast changing telecommunications industry, and
to comply with changes in Federal regulation of wireless service
providers - which became initially effective August 8, 1994, and
finalized on August 8, 1995 - and to better focus on consumer
protection.  The law permits state regulation of the terms and
conditions of service other than rates.
    Under today's order, the Commission will no longer require
these companies to file tariffs with the CPUC, but they must
continue to keep complete records at their headquarters and be
ready to provide them to the Commission upon request when
required to resolve consumer complaints or other inquiries.
    The Commission will adopt generic customer protection rules
applicable to wireless telecommunications carriers that deal
with the terms and conditions of service other than rates. In
the interim until those rules have been finalized, CMRS
providers are required to continue to follow existing Commission
consumer protection rules as set forth in the companies'
tariffs.

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