FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
  February 15, 2000
  
  
Commissioner Ness Pledges Support for Ensuring High-Quality Rural
Telecommunications in Speech to National Telephone Cooperative Association
                              
  
  FCC Commissioner Susan Ness in a speech to the National Telephone Cooperative
  Association yesterday emphasized the importance of a modern telecommunications
  infrastructure for rural communities.  Ness praised rural carriers for "finding innovative
  solutions to overcome obstacles of distance and terrain" to provide quality services to
  their communities. 
  
  Discussing universal service, Commissioner Ness noted that "even as Congress
  sought in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to promote competition, Congress also
  reaffirmed our nation's commitment to universal service.  That was the deal.  And we
  must never forget it."  Ness pledged that "I will not vote to apply any model to rural
  carriers unless and until I am convinced that it makes sense for rural America."
  
  Commissioner Ness stressed the need to address universal service and access
  charge reform for rural carriers, noting that "regulatory uncertainty is a major impediment
  to investment."  She made clear, however, that "I'd rather get it right after taking more
  time than hastily impose a system that doesn't work.  But that's not a license to dither
  around, either."  
  
  Ness applauded the "innovative ways" that rural carriers "are bringing advanced
  services to the doorsteps of [their] communities."  "Just as basic telephone service
  fostered rural development during the last century, broadband communications will enable
  new businesses to spring up literally anywhere," Ness told her audience.
  
  Ness pointed to ways that the FCC can help make broadband deployment a reality. 
  She extolled the benefits of the e-rate program that provides discounts to link classrooms
  and libraries to the Internet, stating that "by most accounts the program is a great
  success."  She noted that, in the first two years, the program has provided "almost one
  billion dollars to help connect tens of thousands of rural schools and libraries to the
  Internet." 
  
  For further information, contact Jordan Goldstein, (202) 418-2100. 
                                                    
                               - FCC -