July 21, 1998
   
Yog R. Varma Named Deputy Bureau Chief, Lisa M. Zaina Named Senior
Counsel and Associate Bureau Chief of the Common Carrier Bureau;
Suzanne M. Tetreault Named Acting Deputy Bureau Chief of the Bureau
                             
       The Common Carrier Bureau today announced the following appointments:
   
   Yog R. Varma 
   
       Yog R. Varma has been named Deputy Bureau Chief of the Common Carrier
   Bureau, effective August 31, 1998.
   
       Since 1994, Mr. Varma has been the Chief Systems Planner of the 
   Communications Division at the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC).  In
   this capacity, Mr. Varma develops and implements policies to encourage the investment
   in and modernization of the state's telecommunications infrastructure.  Mr. Varma
   previously served as Chief of Tariff and Rates in the Communications Division, where he
   worked on an array of telecommunications issues, including universal service, local
   competition, and enhanced service quality.  Prior to that, Mr. Varma served as President
   of Technical Analysis, P.C., a telecommunications and regulatory consulting practice,
   and as the Principal Communications Rates Engineer at the New York State PSC.
   
       Mr. Varma earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of
   Delhi, a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of
   Science, and a Masters of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer
   Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.  He currently resides in Clifton Park, New
   York.
   
   Lisa M. Zaina 
   
       Lisa M. Zaina has been named Senior Counsel and Associate Bureau Chief of the
   Common Carrier Bureau, effective September 1, 1998.
   
   
                               -2-
   
   
       Since 1988, Ms. Zaina has served as Vice President and General Counsel of the
   Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications
   Companies (OPASTCO).  In this role, Ms. Zaina has been responsible for all regulatory,
   legislative, and legal issues before the FCC, state commissions, the National Association
   of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and Congress.  Prior to joining
   OPASTCO, Ms. Zaina served as Deputy Assistant General Counsel of NARUC, where
   she advised state commissioners on regulatory issues and implemented policies of state
   utility commissioners.
   
       Ms. Zaina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and premedicine from
   the University of Notre Dame, and a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. 
   She resides in Washington, D.C.
   
   Suzanne M. Tetreault 
   
       Suzanne M. Tetreault will serve as Acting Deputy Bureau Chief of the Common
   Carrier Bureau through the end of August.  Ms. Tetreault also served as Acting Deputy
   Bureau Chief of the Bureau in November, 1997.
   
       Since 1995, Ms. Tetreault has managed the agenda review process in the Office
   of General Counsel, where she is the Deputy Associate General Counsel for
   Administrative Law.  Ms. Tetreault served previously as Assistant General Counsel.
   
       Ms. Tetreault came to the FCC in 1991, as an attorney in the Common Carrier
   Bureau's Policy and Program Planning Division.  Before joining the FCC, she worked in
   private practice in Washington, D.C. and Dallas, Texas, and at the Federal Trade
   Commission.
   
       Ms. Tetreault is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College.
       
                               ***
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
                               -3-
   
   
   
                STATEMENT BY KATHRYN BROWN
            CHIEF OF THE COMMON CARRIER BUREAU
                             
       I am delighted to announce that Yog Varma and Lisa Zaina are joining the
   Common Carrier Bureau.  Yog brings years of experience in ensuring that consumers
   receive  quality telecommunications services.  Lisa's longstanding work with the states,
   small businesses, and rural America brings critical experience to the Bureau.  
   
       Together with Jim Schlicting and Larry Strickling, my current Deputies, and
   Suzanne Tetreault, we have a strong team ready to address the many important
   telecommunications issues facing the Bureau.     
   
    
   
   
   
                             - FCC -