FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:			NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
February 25, 2000					Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0511

AGENDA RELEASED FOR MARCH 1 PUBLIC FORUM 
ON FCC MERGER APPLICATIONS REVIEW PROCESS

	Washington, DC - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released the 
agenda for its March 1 public forum on FCC review of applications relating to mergers and 
similar transactions, together with a list of suggested topics for discussion.

	On February 18, 2000, the Transactions Team within the FCC's Office of General 
Counsel announced that it would be holding a public forum on Wednesday, March 1, to 
provide an opportunity for public discussion of proposed streamlining of the FCC's processes 
for dealing with applications relating to mergers.  The forum will be held from 10:00 AM to 
noon at the FCC headquarters, 445 12th St., SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission 
Meeting Room on the 12th St. level.  It is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

	At the public forum, the Transactions Team and the Office of General Counsel will 
present proposals for streamlining the processes, including a proposed timeline and 
Transactions Team website.  Following that, there will be an opportunity for public questions 
and comments on these proposals.  There will also be an opportunity following the forum for 
filing written comments.

	

- FCC -
	
	

AGENDA

PUBLIC FORUM: STREAMLINING FCC REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS 
RELATING TO MERGERS

March 1, 2000


Introduction:    10:00-10:15

Presentation of Proposed Timeline and Related Issues	:	10:15-11:00

Presentation of Transaction Team Web Site:	11:00-11:15

Opportunity for Public Comment:		11:15-12:00




PUBLIC FORUM: STREAMLINING FCC REVIEW OF 
APPLICATIONS RELATING TO MERGERS

March 1, 2000


Suggested Topics for Comment:

? Guidance on what needs to be filed
? Clarity of instructions
? Accessibility of instructions
? Consequences of failure to follow guidance

? Potential changes in the formal pleadings process
? Time limits
? Page limits
? Limits on raising new issues in later filings-consequences for time to 
decision

? Use of/limits on ex parte process
? When to designate proceedings as "permit but disclose"
? When to return "permit but disclose" proceeding to "restricted" status
? Limits on nature of contacts (length, subject matter) under "permit but 
disclose"

? Use of Public Forum or Commission En Banc

? Information on status and access to records in pending cases:  Transactions 
Team website content and format

? Coordination with other governmental agencies
? DOJ/FTC Antitrust Investigations
? National Security/Law Enforcement
? State Agencies

- FCC -



	News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
TTY 202 / 418-2555
	Fax-On-Demand   202 / 418-2830
	Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
	     ftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554

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).