NEWS
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	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).
	April 22, 1998
	TRISTANI BUILDS RELATIONSHIPS WITH LATIN AMERICAN REGULATORS; URGES REGULATORY REFORM
	San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina -- At the Fourth Annual Latin American Telecommunications Summit, Commissioner Gloria Tristani today represented the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) by encouraging regulatory reform in the transition from monopoly service to privatization and open competition. Tristani led a discussion among four of the region's regulatory leaders; Carlos Casasus, Chairman of the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Commission (COFTEL); Roberto Catalan, Chairman of the Argentine National Communications Commission (CNC); Jorge Kunigami, Chairman of the Peruvian Supervisory Agency of Investment in Telecommunications (OSIPTEL); and Rosella Cominetti, Chief of Economic Regulation for the Chilean Under Secretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL). In her workshop Tristani commended the progress in telecommunications liberalization that the region has made between the 1994 Miami Summit of the Americas and the recently concluded 1998 Santiago Summit. "Privatization, liberalization, and competition are the norm and the expectation. Consumers in our countries are starting to reap the benefits of this transformation in thought and in action," Tristani said. Discussing regulatory reform, Tristani underscored the opportunity and responsibility of regulators to promote universal service through explicit and market-based mechanisms. Tristani praised Peru and Chile, observing that their innovative approaches "demonstrate that developing countries can promote universal service and competition hand-in-hand." Tristani also delivered the FCC's invitation to the governments of Argentina and Ecuador to attend a Regulatory Workshop at the FCC in Washington next month. The workshop will address implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Basic Telecommunications, covering issues such as interconnection, rate rebalancing, universal service, and spectrum management. The governments of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru previously have participated in the FCC's Regulatory Workshops. Tristani's workshop is part of an annual telecommunications summit organized by the Department of Commerce, the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA), and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Larry Irving, FCC Commissioner Gloria Tristani, and FCC International Bureau Chief Regina Keeney represented the United States Government and participated in a series of bilateral discussions throughout the week. These discussions are intended to promote close working relationships among the regulatory agencies of the Americas. * * * * * News Media contact: Maureen Peratino at (202) 481-0500.