Consumer Project on Technology
          P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
      (202) 387-8030; http://www.essential.org/cpt
     ______________________________________________



August 9, 1996

BY HAND DELIVERY

William F. Caton, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
1919 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20554

Re:  Western Tele-Communications, Inc.(FCC File No. 844-DSE-
P/L-96) and TelQuest Ventures, L.L.C. (FC File Nos. 758-DSE-
P/L-96 and 759-DSE-L-96)

Dear Mr. Caton:

	Pursuant to the request of Mr. Don Gips, Acting Chief 
of the International Bureau, in accordance with Section 
1.1204(b)(7) of the Commission's rules, I met with Mr. Gips 
and members of his staff as a representative from the 
Consumer Project on Technology.  The purpose of the meeting 
was to provide information on the above referenced matter.  
I have attached copies of the documents distributed at the 
meeting and the presentation addressed the following 
matters:

* It is extremely important that this opportunity, the 
potential availability of the Canadian orbital position, not 
be squandered by allowing TCI to become the largest player 
in the DBS arena which is meant to be TCI's primary 
competition. 
 
* TCI and traditional cable providers are facing 
increasingly vigorous competition for the first time and 
TCI's quest for the Canadian orbital position is an attempt 
to diminish these effects; TCI, as a monopolist, is 
attempting to co-opt the competitive impacts DBS is having 
by becoming its own primary competitor.
 
* Shaw Communications may take the 91 degree slot and it has 
reportedly filed an application with the CRTC for a 
Canadian-based DBS service.  With the possibility that only 
one Canadian orbital position will be available for U.S. 
service, it is critical that public interest values in 
ensuring competition and the greatest number of alternative 
delivery platforms be preserved by keeping TCI out of the 
Canadian slot.  

* TCI's history of anti-competitive behavior in the cable 
business will be duplicated in DBS.  Due to TCI's tremendous 
cable holdings it will distort the DBS market to make it 
less competitive to cable, thus preserving its primary 
investment in that service.  

	Please contact me if you have any questions.  Thank 
you.

					Sincerely,


					Todd J. Paglia

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