NEWSApril 6, 1998

                 LAWRENCE E. STRICKLING NAMED DEPUTY CHIEF, 
                            COMMON CARRIER BUREAU
                                             
       Lawrence E. Strickling has been named Deputy Chief of the FCC's Common
Carrier Bureau.  He will oversee the work of the Network Services, Enforcement, and
Industry Analysis Divisions.

       Since November 1997,  Strickling has served as the FCC's Associate General
Counsel and Chief of the Competition Division.  He joined the Commission on
September 21, 1997, when he was named Chairman of the FCC's Competition
Enforcement Task Force, whose activities he continues to direct.  The Task Force, created
last July 15, has the mission of investigating actions that may be delaying competition in
telecommunications markets and ensuring that all participants can receive rapid
investigation and adjudication of disputes.

       Prior to coming to the Commission,  Strickling served as Vice President-Public
Policy at Ameritech from 1994 to 1997, where he was responsible for the development
and implementation of Ameritech's state and federal regulatory policies.  He also served
as Associate General Counsel of Ameritech from 1991 to 1994.

       Prior to joining Ameritech in 1987,  Strickling was an partner at the law firm of
Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago where he handled a variety of litigation matters.

       He is currently Vice President of the Chicago Children's Choir, and he also sits on
the Board of Directors of the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and
the Court Theatre.
       
        Strickling holds a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in
Economics from the University of Maryland.  He currently resides in Chicago with his
wife, Sydney Hans, and three sons. 


                                - FCC -