ABINGDON, VIRGINIA, October 16, 2003—The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will partner with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in expanding telecommunications and high-speed Internet availability in the Appalachian Region, ARC Federal Co-Chair Anne B. Pope announced today. Speaking at the Commission's Telecommunications and the Future of Appalachian Communities conference in Abingdon, Virginia, Pope said ARC would work with the FCC in identifying distressed areas in the Region where low-income households would qualify for the FCC's Lifeline Assistance and Link-Up America outreach programs.

"The FCC has a long and proud commitment to the people of rural America, and I am confident that, working together, we can do even more to speed our region toward full access to the twenty-first-century economy," Pope said. "This is just the first of what we hope will be many productive partnerships to coordinate and leverage our investments with other agencies working to connect Appalachia."

ARC States' Co-Chair Mark R. Warner, governor of Virginia, welcomed the collaboration with the FCC. "As the Internet-based economy expands throughout the United States and the world, no community in Appalachia should be without access to telecommunications services," said Warner. "We are pleased to have the FCC join us as a true partner as we work to expand our efforts in making these vital services available to our Appalachian communities. The support and partnership of government and private resources is crucial as we work to bring technology-based businesses and jobs to the Appalachian Region."

K. Dane Snowden, chief of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, also welcomed the new partnership with ARC. "The FCC is delighted to be partnering with the Appalachian Regional Commission to ensure that the people living in this rural region have access to quality and affordable telecommunications services, including broadband," he said. "I look forward to a productive partnership with ARC as we work to achieve these goals."