NEWSReport No. IN 98-98-31               INTERNATIONAL ACTION                June 23, 1998

                    FCC HOSTS THIRD WORKSHOP IN SERIES
               WITH TELECOM REGULATORS FROM NINE COUNTRIES 

     To promote effective implementation of pro-competitive regulatory structures and
policies, the FCC hosted the third in a series of workshops with telecommunications
regulators.  This workshop, held at the FCC from June 15-18, brought together regulators
from nine countries.

     Countries participating in this workshop were:  Senegal, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Argentina,
Colombia, Domincan Republic, Ukraine, Czech Republic and Indonesia. 

     The countries represented at this third workshop have only recently begun to introduce
competition.  The purpose of the workshop was to foster closer cooperation among regulatory
authorities and to promote independent, effective regulatory regimes and meaningful
competition. 

     Regina M. Keeney, Chief of the International Bureau which organized the workshop
series said, "Declaring markets open is just the first step.  A strong regulator with adequate
tools has the key role to play in bringing competition to the market.  This series of workshops
provides an opportunity for regulators from many countries to pull out our competition road
maps and work together to make competition a reality."    

      The first of these workshops took place in February, concentrating on effective
implementation of the pro-competitive regulatory principles adopted as part of the World
Trade Organization's Agreement on Basic Telecom.  The second and third workshops focused
on developing a stable legal and regulatory framework to promote competition,
interconnection and universal service.  The workshops also addressed satellite and wireless
issues.  Altogether almost 30 countries have participated in the International Bureau
workshops.  The FCC will hold a final workshop during the summer to address in more detail
issues relating to competition in satellite services.
     
     The FCC workshops have been conducted with the support of the U.S. Agency for
International Development and the U.S. Telecommunications Training Institute.

 - FCC -

     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
     International Bureau contact: Laurie Sherman at (202) 418-0429.