FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   CONTACT:  Joy Howell
April 6, 1999                                           202/418-0505


     FCC Chairman Kennard Reminds Consumers to Shop Around

     Washington, D.C. -- FCC Chairman William E. Kennard today issued the following
statement regarding long distance rates:

     The rates of long distance companies are largely unregulated.  Companies may charge
different rates for the same service.  Competition however, has resulted in some very attractive
plans.

     "If you don't like your long distance service, shop around," Kennard said.

     The Chairman went on to say that consumers who want to switch long distance carriers
should analyze their calling needs, number of long distance calls per month, length of the calls and
the time of day those calls are made.  Consumers should ask their long distance company about
rates per minute or per month, as well as monthly fees or minimum spending limits.

     Consumers who are unsure about how to select a long distance company may wish to
contact a consumer organization for more information. In addition, Telecommunications Research
and Action Center (TRAC) compares long distance services on its web site which is located at
www.trac.org.

      Finally, some long distance companies already post their rates on their company web sites
and the FCC recently required all long distance carriers, that have web sites, to do so within the next few months.
Consumers who want to do their own comparison shopping will be able to go to each long
distance company web site to determine the best calling plan for their needs.




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