March 6, 2000
               
                                
                 MARY BETH MURPHY NAMED CHIEF, 
           POLICY & RULES DIVISION, MASS MEDIA BUREAU
                                
     
     Mary Beth Murphy has been named Chief of the Policy and Rules Division of the Mass
Media Bureau.

     Prior to joining the Policy and Rules Division, Murphy was Special Counsel to General
Counsel Christopher J. Wright.  She had worked in the General Counsel's office since 1995,
advising the General Counsel primarily on mass media and cable issues.  Before joining the
FCC, Murphy practiced litigation at the law firm of Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, D.C. 
She also served as a law clerk to the Hon. Marvin Katz of the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

     Since joining the Policy and Rules Division as Acting Chief, Murphy has led various
significant Commission proceedings, including the broadcast ownership proceeding, the
creation of the low power FM radio service, the proposal of rules requiring video description,
and the proceeding examining public interest obligations of broadcasters.  Murphy will also
continue to be involved in issues surrounding the transition to digital television.

     Murphy received her J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a
B.A. in English from Georgetown University.

          
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