******************************************************** NOTICE ******************************************************** This document was converted from WordPerfect or Word to ASCII Text format. Content from the original version of the document such as headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers will not show up in this text version. All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the original document will not show up in this text version. Features of the original document layout such as columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins will not be preserved in the text version. If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: January 17, 2001 Mike Balmoris at (202) 418-0253 Email: mbalmori@fcc.gov FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ISSUES BIENNIAL REGULATORY REVIEW REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2000 Washington, D.C. Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued its biennial regulatory review report for year 2000. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires the Commission to review its rules that apply to telecommunications service providers and its broadcast ownership rules to determine whether any regulations are no longer in the public interest due to meaningful economic competition and whether such regulations should be repealed or modified. The Commission has expanded the regulatory review to include all of the agency's regulations. The Commission's Biennial Regulatory Review 2000 fulfills its statutory responsibility and identifies current deregulatory efforts and rules that should be modified or repealed. The review is more expansive than the statute mandates, and establishes a framework for future biennial reviews so that the process will become a vital and productive part of the agency's ongoing evaluation of its rules resulting in improved service to the public and reduced burdens on the industry. Finally, the report sets the stage for initiation of several rulemaking proceedings to repeal or modify a number of substantive and procedural rules across all Bureaus and Offices. The Staff Report, which provides details of this review, is being released concurrently and can be found on the Commission's web site. Action by the Commission December 29, 2000, by Report (FCC 00-456). Chairman Kennard and Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell, and Tristani. Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth issuing a separate statement. CC Docket No. 00-75 -FCC- News about the Federal Communications Commission can also be found on the Commission's web site www.fcc.gov.