NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 1919 - M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov
	This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
	January 5, 1998
	CHAIRMAN KENNARD VISITS "PLUGGED-IN"
	"Without access to information, many young minds will not be able to meaningfully participate in our future society," FCC Chairman William Kennard said today in Palo Alto, California. Kennard made his remarks during a visit to Plugged-In, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping bring computer and communications technologies to the East Palo Alto, California community. He toured the facility and then made brief remarks to the press. "Plugged-In is succeeding in bridging the information gap between the haves and have nots," Kennard said, "If we accept the premise that information is the power and the essence of future decisions, we must also accept the reality that we need to connect our classrooms, so that our children begin to acquire these necessary skills from a very young age." During his remarks to Plugged-In, Kennard, stressed "the importance of advanced computer skills in today's job market and the necessity that everyone in all communities have access to advanced telecommunications services." Kennard said that "quality telecommunications services should be available at the best price to all American consumers - rich and poor, old and young, urban and rural." "I commend Plugged-In for being a role model for connecting low-income communities with the information economy," said Kennard, "it's a prime example of the private sector working in conjunction with a community-based program to provide technical training and employment assistance to an underserved community." Plugged-In was established in 1992 and serves the community of East Palo Alto with state-of-the-art computers to perform online research, complete homework assignments, create web pages or participate in one of 30 classes. Classes range from basic computer introduction to advanced classes in specific software applications. - FCC - Office of Public Affairs contacts: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0256 or David Fiske at (202) 418-0513