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            STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN MICHAEL POWELL

Re:  In the Matter of Qwest Corporation Apparent Liability 
for Forfeiture

     Today  we release  a Notice  of Apparent  Liability for 
Forfeiture  against Qwest,  containing the  largest proposed 
forfeiture  in  the  Commission's  history.   We  propose  a 
forfeiture of this size, $9 million, due to Qwest's apparent 
non-compliance  with  the  pro-competitive  requirements  of 
section 252 of the Communications Act and Commission orders.  

     I would  like to emphasize that  our action complements 
state enforcement  actions in  Minnesota and  Arizona.  This 
action sends  a clear message, along  with the complementary 
state actions,  that violations  of the  key pro-competitive 
provisions of the Act will not be tolerated.