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 April 26, 2002
	CHAIRMAN POWELL CONGRATULATES MESCALERO APACHE TELECOM ON ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
	Washington, DC -Michael K. Powell, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, congratulated the Mescalero Apache Telecom Inc., the first Native American owned telephone company in New Mexico, on its first anniversary. During its first year of operation, MATI has more than doubled subscribership on the reservation from 650 to 1,449 customers and installed a new network switch with broadband capability. Chairman Powell said, "We at the FCC are keenly aware that telephone penetration rates on Tribal Lands remain among the lowest in the country. I congratulate MATI on its first year in operation and wish it continued success." - FCC -