FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             News Media Contact:
May 13, 1999                       David Fiske at (202) 418-0500

    CHAIRMAN KENNARD PARTICIPATES IN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION 
                        OF LOW POWER FM 
States that the FCC has a duty to ensure that licensees of the public airwaves serve 
                    their local communities
                                
     Washington, DC -- William E. Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), participated today in a roundtable discussion on low power radio with
representatives of many religious organizations.   

     The discussion took place at First Congregational Church in Washington, DC, and was
moderated by Randy Naylor of the National Council of Churches.

     Chairman Kennard  said his job as FCC chairman was to ensure that the public
spectrum is used to benefit all Americans and this goal will be served by a low power radio
service that will give more Americans access to stations that serve the needs of their local
communities.  The Commission has proposed allowing FM stations to operate at low power
levels to broadcast to their local communities.  Comments are due on this proposal by  
June 1.

      "As I've traveled around the country," he said, "I've met dozens of people who want
to use the airwaves to speak to their communities -- churches, community groups, elementary
schools, colleges, and minority groups.   In the Commission's proposal for a low power radio
service, these people see the opportunity to have their voices carry through their communities. 
To have their voices heard.  And to bring together their communities through a shared message
broadcast to all -- whether a church service, a school concert or assembly, or a speech by a
local public official. "

     Also attending the roundtable discussion were: Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, General
Secretary, National Council of Churches of Christ; Rev. Everett Parker, United Church of
Christ (UCC);  Rev. John Mack, Sr. Pastor, First Congregational Church, Washington, DC; 
Randy Naylor, National Council of Churches; Rev. Edward Rivera, Cleveland, OH;  Kathleen
Golden, Producer, Mary Knoll World Productions;  Katherine Grincewich, Asst. General
Counsel, U.S. Catholic Conference; Rev. Anand Veeraraj, Princeton, NJ;  Sally White-
Dishton, Intern, Westmoreland UCC, Washington, DC;  Barbara Ferguson-Kamara, Asst. to
Mayor, Washington, DC;  Dr. James Mack, Howard Univ.;  Kwami Osei Reed, UCC; 
Roberto Gutierez, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Austin TX;  Andrew Schwartzmann, Media
Access Project. 
                                                            - FCC -