FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
  July 28, 1999                           Linda Paris at 202-418-0500   
  
       FCC CHAIRMAN KENNARD DETAILS THREE PART STRATEGY
                   TO NARROW THE DIGITAL DIVIDE 
           BETWEEN INFORMATION HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS
                               
       FCC Chairman William E. Kennard details an investment strategy to narrow the digital
  divide between the information haves and the have-nots.  As our economy enters the Information
  Age, Chairman Kennard predicts, "If Latinos are the future of American society and communications
  is the future of the American economy, then to be a strong nation, we need to make sure that we
  invest in both."  He outlines this investment plan in remarks scheduled to be made today at an awards
  dinner in Houston, Texas, hosted by the National Council of La Raza.  
  
  Kennard outlines three investments to close the digital divide:
  
  [1] Fully Funding the E-rate program
       The E-rate program is the first step in investing for the future.  An E-rate program will help
       us to bring the Internet into every school and library in every corner of the nation.  Kennard
       announced, "This week we were able to send nearly $12 million to schools and libraries right
       here in Texas."
  
  [2] Initiating A New Tax Certificate Program
       Building a strong and prosperous future also means using a tax-certificate program.  It must
       be designed to entice owners to sell all types of communications licenses   from TV to cable
       to wireless - to small businesses and especially small business run by Latinos, women and
       other minorities.  The Chairman said, "Before Congress ended the program in 1995, it
       opened the door for people like Tom Castro to enter and to thrive in the communications
       business."
  
  [3] Ending Advertising Disparity 
       We must make sure that Latin formatted radio stations can sustain themselves to provide the
       news and local information for communities around the country.  Kennard said,
       "Discriminatory advertising practices must be stopped, so that a station such as KSCA-FM in
       Los Angeles, which is number one in audience size, is not stuck at number 20 in ad
       revenue."
  
  According to a recent Department of Commerce report, there is a widening gap between the
  information haves -- those with Internet and computer access, generally higher income, better
  educated groups -- and the information have-nots - those without access, generally lower income,
  often minorities.
                            - FCC -