FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:             News Media Contacts:
August 11, 1999                         Linda Paris at (202) 418-7121
                                   Michelle Russo at (202) 418-2358
     
           FCC CHAIRMAN KENNARD SHARES GOAL OF LOCAL
          GOVERNMENTS TO ACHIEVE OPEN BROADBAND ACCESS
Continues to Believe that Vigilant Restraint is the Right Way to Get There

Federal Communications Commission Chairman William E. Kennard yesterday reiterated
that the FCC shares the goal of consumers and local governments   an open Internet. 

In a letter to the FCC's Local and State Government Advisory Committee, Kennard said,
"We must pursue the goal of open access in a manner that encourages investment in the
deployment of [broadband] networks."

Kennard stated that the FCC's policy of encouraging the marketplace to develop has
"already produced impressive results across the country," including:

        § Increased deployment of cable modem service by cable operators
        § Increased rollout of DSL (digital subscriber line) services by local phone companies
        § Declining charges for DSL service as competition intensifies
        § Increased investments by companies exploring the potential of satellite and wireless
        technologies as broadband sources

Kennard noted that although broadband is in its infancy, the FCC is taking steps to ensure
that there are many competitors in the Internet marketplace. He said that more spectrum has been
made available to wireless operators and that it is easier for emerging competitive local phone
companies to connect into the existing network in order to provide high-speed access to the
Internet using DSL technology.

  Kennard said that the FCC is conducting a series of "on-going broadband monitoring sessions"
on the subject, with participants including local government representatives, public interest
groups, investment analysts, cable and phone companies, ISPs, academics and others. He said the
FCC will be seeking further public comment on the issue this Fall in connection with the study of
advanced telecommunications services conducted pursuant to section 706 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The Local and State Advisory Committee met with FCC staff on July 23, 1999 to discuss
a series of topics, including the open cable issue. 
                             -FCC-
Report No. CS 99-11