NEWS                                                     October 23, 1997
                 CHIEF OF STAFF BLAIR LEVIN TO LEAVE FCC

     FCC Chief of Staff Blair Levin announced today that he will leave the agency on
October 30th.  

     Chairman Reed Hundt said:  "Blair has an unparalleled understanding of the interplay
of technology issues, policy concerns and business realities across all lanes of the information
highway.  He was amazingly effective in using that understanding to promote competition
and the public interest."

     "The FCC staff has never faced greater challenges or racked up so many historic
accomplishments, and Blair's managerial talent was the secret weapon behind the agency's
many successes.  Thanks to Blair, the Commission simultaneously got all the
Telecommunications Act rulemakings done on time and unanimously, held 15 spectrum
auctions including the first in the agency's history, overhauled international telephone rules,
launched digital television, and effectively and swiftly handled the huge increase in
transactional and licensing activity.  Without breaking a sweat, Blair also made sure that the
Commission adopted rules wiring our classrooms and libraries, and ensuring more
educational programs for our kids.  He's also my friend.  I'd say I'll miss him but it
wouldn't be true.  We'll always be brothers."

     "Countless times in the past four years I asked Blair to make the impossible
inevitable.  He never failed.  He recruited the best talent the FCC ever had, molded them
into a world-class team, and taught them how to withstand pressure, think outside the box
and serve the public while always having fun.  He was our Dean Smith."

     Levin said "Participating in the communications revolution from this vantage point
was incredibly exciting and challenging.  I'm especially grateful that I was able to work
together with the terrific career veterans and the new staff at the FCC.   But it's time to
move on to new adventures."

     Levin has served as Chief of Staff since December 1993.  He is the longest serving
Chief of Staff in FCC history.  Levin plans to pursue a number of opportunities in the
private sector.

     Chairman Hundt announced that if William Kennard has not been confirmed by the
date of Levin's departure, Jackie Chorney will become Chief of Staff and Gretchen Rubin
will become Senior Legal Advisor.
 --FCC--