FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             News Media Contact:
 January 27, 2000                       Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511
                                
       FCC Chairman Addresses Spanish Internet Conference
                                
 Madrid, Spain -- William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), addressed a conference on the Internet yesterday sponsored by the U.S.
Embassy and several Spanish organizations.  In his address, Chairman Kennard stated, "Spain is a
very important strategic partner for the United States," and "increasingly, the economic success of
both countries will depend on their ability to work cooperatively to build the networks necessary
to expand the exchange of information across their borders."  According to Chairman Kennard,
"the best way to build these essential networks is through a policy of openness and competition."

Chairman Kennard stated that Spain is beginning to make progress toward a competitive
telecommunications market.  He also stressed that such progress will continue only if Spain's
Telecommunications Market Commission (CMT) has the independence and enforcement tools
necessary to complete the transition from monopoly to competition.  Chairman Kennard
congratulated his counterpart in Spain, CMT Chairman Jose Maria Vasquez-Quintana, on the
work he has done thus far, and pledged to work with him in partnership to advance competition in
the future.

                            - FCC -