1 News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov 1 PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 September 16, 1999 CHAIRMAN KENNARD TO CONVENE FOLLOW-UP PUBLIC FORUM ON A NEW FCC FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Chairman Kennard today announced that he will convene a follow-up public forum to discuss his recently released draft strategic plan for the Federal Communications Commission. The Chairman submitted his draft strategic plan to Congress in August outlining his vision for the FCC. This plan, titled "A New FCC for the 21st Century," is available on the FCC website at: www.fcc.gov. The forum will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 30, 1999, in the Commission Meeting Room at 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, DC, and will be open to the public. Seating will be available on a first come, first served basis. Chairman Kennard will welcome the forum participants and Kathryn Brown, the FCC's Chief of Staff, will moderate the discussion. The forum will be closed captioned. In the draft strategic plan, the Chairman identified four primary goals to successfully carry out the transition from a market regulator to a market facilitator: (1) create a model agency for the digital age; (2) promote competition in all communications markets; (3) promote opportunities for all Americans to benefit from the communications revolution; and (4) manage the electromagnetic spectrum (the Nation's airwaves) in the public interest. The agenda for the September 30 forum will include a half-hour session on each of these four goals and an introduction and wrap-up by the Chief of Staff. Specifically, participants are asked to comment on the initiatives identified in the plan under each goal as well as on any other aspects of the draft strategic plan, including recommended legislative proposals. The Chairman held three public forums last May and June with approximately 75 representatives of General Industry, Consumers, State & Local Governments, and Academic and Organizational Experts to discuss the future of the FCC. At these forums, participants were asked to address three questions: (1) what should the FCC's role be in the 21st century; (2) how can the FCC work more efficiently and effectively to deliver services to the public; and (3) how should the FCC be structured in the communications marketplace of the future? All participants from the previous forums, as well as anyone else interested in participating, are invited to attend the follow-up forum to express their views on the draft plan. An e-mail site has been established to receive additional input from the public. The e-mail address is: newfcc@fcc.gov. The forum will also be carried live on the Internet, barring any technical difficulties. Internet users may listen to the real-time audio feed of the forum via the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. Step-by-step instructions on how to listen to the audio broadcast, as well as information regarding the equipment and software needed, are available on the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. The URL address for this home page is: http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/. A transcript of the forum will be available 10 business days after the event on the FCC's Internet site. The URL address for the FCC's Internet Home Page is: http://www.fcc.gov. Transcripts of all of the forums also may be obtained from the FCC's duplicating contractor, International Transcription Service, 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, by calling ITS at (202) 857-3800, TTY (202) 293-8810, or faxing ITS at (202) 857-3805. Audio and video tapes of the forums may be purchased from Infocus, 341 Victory Drive, Herndon, VA 20170, by calling Infocus at (703) 834-0100 or by faxing Infocus at (703) 834-0111. Copies of the transcript in other alternative formats (computer diskette, large print, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Martha Contee at (202) 418- 0260 voice, (202) 418-2555 TTY, or at mcontee@fcc.gov. Anyone wishing to attend this forum should contact Steve Klitzman at (202) 418-1913, TTY (202) 418-2555 or Lisa Gaisford at (202) 418-7280, TTY (202) 418-1169. News Media contact: Maureen Peratino at (202) 418-0506. - FCC -