NEWS
	Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554	News media information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322
	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).
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 2001 NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Michelle Russo at (202) 418-2358
	FCC CHAIRMAN MICHAEL POWELL NAMES INTRA-AGENCY TEAM LEADERS TO REVIEW PROPOSED ECHOSTAR-DIRECTV COMBINATION
	Washington, D.C. - FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell today announced that W. Kenneth Ferree, chief of the Cable Services Bureau and future Media Bureau, will head an intra-agency team of FCC officials to review whether EchoStar Communications Corporation's proposed acquisition of General Motors' Hughes Electronics, which owns satellite television service DirecTV, is in the public interest. Chairman Powell said, "The team I have assembled includes experts from different FCC offices and bureaus that deal with areas and issues relevant to these companies and I am confident that the review will be thorough, fair and timely. Given the significant concentration that would result from this transaction, it will be rigorously scrutinized by this team and the Commission." Jim Bird, Senior Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, and David Sappington, FCC Chief Economist will serve as senior leaders of the team. Additional members of the special coordinating team include: Barbara Esbin, Associate Bureau Chief, Cable Services Bureau Julius Knapp, Deputy Bureau Chief, Office of Engineering & Technology JoAnn Lucanik, Satellite Division, International Bureau Royce Dickens Sherlock, Deputy Chief, Policy Division, Cable Services Bureau Donald Stockdale, Economist, Office of Plans and Policy Doug Webbink, Economist, International Bureau Powell said that he has assembled this team in advance in order to expedite the FCC's review once the parties' application is received. - FCC -