March 2 , 1999
                                 
OCBO DIRECTOR, CATHERINE J. K. SANDOVAL TO LEAVE THE COMMISSION

     Catherine J. K. Sandoval, Director of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Office of
Communications Business Opportunities (OCBO), announced today that she will leave the FCC on March
12.  

     "Cathy has worked tirelessly to promote opportunities for small businesses in the communications
industry, including those owned by minorities and women," said Chairman William Kennard.  "Her insights
and leadership in building coalitions to develop solutions have made her an invaluable asset to the
Commission and the community," commented Chairman Kennard.  "She is a friend and colleague who I
will miss." 

     During her tenure at the FCC,  Sandoval more than tripled the Commission's outreach to small
businesses through OCBO's regular mailings on FCC proceedings and licensing opportunities.  She played
a major role in launching the Telecommunications Development Fund (TDF), an independent organization
established by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to provide equity capital and technical assistance to
small communications businesses.  She coordinated the FCC's efforts to examine and eliminate market
entry barriers facing small businesses.  OCBO commissioned the report released last month on the impact
of advertising practices on minority-formatted and minority-owned broadcasters and the public interest. 
Sandoval worked extensively on the development of FCC auction rules and convened three annual auctions
conferences, which were each attended by over 300 small businesses and experts on auctions and wireless
services.  
     
     For her distinguished public service, Sandoval received the FCC Chairman's Special Achievement
Award in 1997, and the 1998 Patrice Johnson Award for Excellence in Public Service from the National
Association of Black Telecommunications Professionals.  

     Sandoval has served as Director of OCBO since August 1995.  Prior to that, she served as
OCBO's Deputy Director for one year.  She joined the Commission in January 1994 as Special Assistant to
the Director of the Office of International Communications (now known as the International Bureau).  A
native of Los Angeles, prior to joining the FCC, Sandoval was a business litigator with the firm of Munger,
Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles. She also served as law clerk to Judge Dorothy W. Nelson of the United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  

     Sandoval graduated magna cum laude from Yale University where she majored in Latin American
Studies.  She earned a Master's degree in Politics at Oxford University in Oxford, England.  She was the
first Hispanic woman to win a Rhodes Scholarship.  She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School
where she was a member of the Stanford Law Review.     

     Sandoval has not finalized plans for the future.
                                                                 - FCC -