FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: 
  February 17, 2000                       Mike Balmoris at (202) 418-0253
                                     Email:    mbalmori@fcc.gov
  
                   COMMON CARRIER ACTION
                              
  FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ISSUES INQUIRY FOR ITS
  SECOND REPORT ON ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY
                              
 Notice of Inquiry Seeks Data to Determine Rate of Deployment 
Especially to Rural and Inner City Areas and Persons with Disabilities
                              
  Washington, D.C.   Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  initiated its second inquiry, as required by Congress, into whether "advanced
  telecommunications capability" is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and
  timely fashion.  Advanced telecommunications capability refers to facilities that can send
  and receive enormous amounts of information very quickly.  For example, a user can
  change web pages as fast as he or she can flip through the pages of a book, and can have
  services such as two-way videoconferencing.  
  
  In order to make informed judgments about whether deployment is reasonable and
  timely, today's Notice of Inquiry seeks objective, empirical data about the current state of
  broadband deployment.  More specifically, the Commission seeks information about the
  present deployment of broadband to business and residential customers, and to different
  geographic areas and socio-economic groups.  The Commission also seeks comment on
  what actions will accelerate deployment if it is determined that advanced
  telecommunications capability is not being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and
  timely fashion.
  
  The Notice also includes what the Commission believes is the current status of
  planning, deployment, actual offerings and sales, and competition in the residential
  broadband market.
  
  The Commission's first inquiry, which was released on February 2, 1999, ended
  with the conclusion that deployment of advanced telecommunications appeared, at that
  time, to be "reasonable and timely"   although the Commission stated that it was difficult
  to reach a firm judgment given the early stage of deployment.  The Commission also
  lacked information at that time to determine whether high-speed services were reaching
  rural and inner-city users and persons with disabilities.
  
  
  As required by statute, the Commission will conclude this inquiry and issue its
  second report within 180 days.
  
  Action by the Commission February 17, 2000, by Notice of Inquiry (FCC XX-
  XXX). Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani.
  
  CC Docket No. 98-146
  
                           -FCC-
  
  Common Carrier Bureau contact: Linda Kinney (202) 418-1500
  
  
News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found
         on the Commission's web site www.fcc.gov.