August 12, 1998

                FCC HOSTS FINAL WORKSHOP IN SERIES
           WITH SATELLITE REGULATORS FROM 8 COUNTRIES 

     To promote effective implementation of pro-competitive regulatory structures and policies,
the FCC hosted the fourth in a series of workshops with telecommunications regulators.  This
workshop, held at the FCC from August 3-5, brought together regulators from 8 countries: 
Brazil, Botswana, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, South Africa and Sri Lanka.

     The countries represented at this fourth workshop have 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. The workshop also focused substantively on competition in the satellite sector and
the development of regulatory regimes for licensing and coordinating both fixed and mobile
satellite systems. 

     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 workshop enabled us to
examine some challenging issues in the satellite arena and to develop the global cooperation
necessary to hasten deployment of these systems and 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 May and June 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
nearly 40 countries have participated in the International Bureau workshops.  
     
     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: Tracey Weisler at (202) 418-0744.