U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
     Litigation Release No. 15449/August 19, 1997

     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION V. CARMELO BLACCONERI AND WILLIAM J.
     BURNS, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Civil
     Action No. 97 C 5844  (N.D. Ill. August 19, 1997)

          The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on August 19,
     1997, it filed a Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and
     Other Equitable Relief (Complaint) in the United States District Court for
     the Northern District of Illinois against Carmelo Blacconeri (Blacconeri),
     a resident of Park Ridge, Illinois, and William J. Burns (Burns), a
     resident of Carbondale, Illinois.  The Complaint alleges that Burns and
     Blacconeri violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
     (Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder in connection with Blacconeri's
     purchases of the securities of InterDigital Communications, Inc. (IDC)
     while he was in possession of material, non-public information he received
     from Burns regarding IDC.

          According to the Complaint, from 1994 to May 1996, Burns was the Chief
     Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of IDC, a publicly-held company
     based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.  The Complaint alleges that, on or
     about December 13, 1994, while Burns was traveling overseas to negotiate a
     possible strategic alliance between IDC and a multinational corporation,
     Burns telephoned Blacconeri and informed him about the negotiations. 
     According to the Complaint, on or about the very same day, after his
     conversation with Burns, Blacconeri purchased approximately 50,000 shares
     of IDC securities.  The Complaint further alleges that Blacconeri then told
     a personal friend that he intended to purchase IDC securities.  Shortly
     thereafter, Blacconeri's personal friend purchased approximately 10,000
     shares of IDC securities.  Blacconeri and his personal friend had a ten-
     year history in which his personal friend frequently made investments: (i)
     as a result of the advice and recommendation by Blacconeri with respect to
     investments; and (ii) as a result of discussions with Blacconeri regarding
     investments made by Blacconeri. 

          Blacconceri and Burns each have consented, without admitting or
     denying the allegations in the Complaint, to the entry of Final Judgment
     and Order of Permanent Injunction, Civil Penalties and Other Equitable
     Relief (Final Judgment) which will enjoin them from future violations of
     Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.  The Final
     Judgment will also require Blacconeri to disgorge $120,220.35, representing
     the gains by him of $101,191.85 and by his personal friend of $19,037.50,
     plus prejudgment interest of $26,653.76.  In addition, the Final Judgment
     will require Blacconeri to pay a civil penalty of $120,220.35 and Burns to
     pay a civil penalty of $101,191.85 pursuant to Section 21A of the Exchange
     Act.   





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